IPL 2018 Auction: Royal Challengers Bangalore's 5 biggest buys

After a decade of successful Indian Premier League, a total of 581 players were up for auction and every franchise was allowed to retain a maximum of 5 players.

The extravagant Royal Challengers Bangalore were left with a purse of INR 49 crores after retaining the most valuable player Virat Kohli for INR 17 crore. The other 2 retentions were made in the form of AB de Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan.

RCB let go of the monstrous Chris Gayle after a dip in his form and the onus was on the management to pick a destructive opener and a quality bowling line-up that never clicked as a unit for RCB in the past.

Here are the top 5 picks by RCB in the mega-auction.

#5 Brendon McCullum

McCullum's name often resonates with the adjectives brutality and destruction as he defined the way T20 cricket has to be played.

He is the leading run-scorer in T20I cricket with an average of 36 at a staggering strike rate of 136.

McCullum's fearless approach and brutal hitting at the top has terrified the strongest of oppositions and has made the bowlers look terrible.

His ability to take on the opposition right from the word ‘go’ is uncommon and the acrobatics he shows in the field add great value to the team.

If RCB has to perform well in IPL, McCullum's consistency will play a huge role.

#4 Nathan Coulter-Nile

Hailing from Perth in Western Australia, Coulter-Nile is a typical Australian fast bowler, who has great bowling skills up his sleeve.

He is known for bowling a tight line and length and clocks 140 km/h consistently.

Playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous edition of the IPL, Coulter-Nile served the purpose with utmost regulation.

His lethal yorkers and vicious bouncers in the death overs can prevent the best of batsmen from going big which can put an end to RCB's bowling woes.

#3 Washington Sundar

The lanky off-spinner from Tamil Nadu, who is the youngest Indian to play a T20I game is often lauded for his well-disciplined character.

A top-order batsman turned bowler - Sundar often bowls disciplined line and length. His variation in pace allows the ball to grip and bounce from the height. Sundar holds the record for best bowling figures in an IPL final.

His ability to bowl with the new ball came into limelight during IPL 2017, where he smothered big hitters like David Warner from destroying the bowling attack in the powerplays.

#2 Navdeep Saini

Another addition to Bangalore's bowling line-up is the uncapped player from Haryana – Navdeep Saini.

Playing for Delhi in the domestic circuit, Saini has had one of the amazing transitions. From being injury prone to one of the fittest fast bowlers in First Class level – Saini has been crucial in Delhi’s meteoric rise.

Averaging just around 25 in all formats of the game and economy rate of 6, he could well turn out to be a trump card for RCB.

His ability to hit high speeds consistently while moving the ball both ways and a brutish yorker can topple the batsmen. Saini's inclusion brings balance to the RCB's bowling line- up.

#1 Chris Woakes

A handy bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes from England is someone, who adds value to the side. Bowling at a pace of 85 km/h, Woakes has uniformity in his lines and lengths.

His prowess in swinging the ball both ways in addition to bowling wide range of deliveries varying from the slower ones to the one that kicks off from the good length, Woakes has it all that takes to garner success in the shortest format.

He has been a valuable all-rounder for England as he can clear the fence with ease and can surprise the batsmen with a mix of deliveries which adds spark to the RCB line-up.