IPL 2019: 3 bold decisions that could help RCB stand a chance of reaching the playoffs

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have started the IPL 2019 campaign with dispiriting losses and dismaying failures in all the departments, for what seems like the umpteenth time. RCB have played four matches so far, and tasted defeat in all of them, to find themselves at the bottom of the IPL points table.

Barring the hard-fought match against Mumbai Indians, RCB have not looked like snatching the match from the pouch of the opposition in any of the other three clashes.

The IPL opener, featuring defending-champions CSK and RCB, saw RCB struggle with their so-called "improved" batting line-up, as they were bundled out for just 70 runs. In their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB let down their fans as their bowlers conceded over 230 runs in the first innings of the game and then their batsmen departed one by one, ending with just 113 runs on the board.

The equations are not simple for the Bangalore-based franchise now. In order to reach the playoffs, RCB needs to secure wins in most matches they'll play from here on.

As much as it's the fault of the players' inability to perform at their best, there's also a huge role of the team management in causing these unsavory defeats. With that in mind, here are some bold decisions the RCB management could make to give the team a small chance of qualifying for the playoffs:

#3 Get rid of Shimron Hetmyer and Moeen Ali

Shimron Hetmyer (picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

While Moeen Ali hasn't done extremely bad in the departments that come under his responsibility, he has not been that threatening to the opposition either. It seems as if captain Kohli hasn't looked at Moeen as a genuine all-rounder; he's being looked at only as a batsman who can bowl a bit.

On the other hand, the Windies brute Shimron Hetmyer has not looked threatening at all this IPL. He has not managed a single double-digit score in the four matches he has played.

Getting rid of Hetmyer and Ali would decrease the count of overseas players and allow the franchise to rope in better overseas options, based on pitch and weather conditions. Plus, CSK has already shown that IPL matches can be won without playing all four overseas players too.

#2 Rope in both overseas speedsters

Virat Kohli and Tim Southee (picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

Nathan Coulter-Nile and Tim Southee are RCB's two overseas fast bowling options. And there is absolutely no doubt that both are better than any of the RCB bowlers that have featured in the team this IPL.

While logic dictates that RCB should be playing both their overseas pacers, they have given chances to none so far. Coulter-Nile of course had been absent for the first few games due to his international commitments, but not picking Southee has been a major setback for the team.

Their current bowling unit has looked helpless and has been unable to pick wickets, either in the powerplay overs or the death.

Moreover, Coulter-Nile and Southee can also swing the bat as hard as anyone else. They are both capable of sending the ball into the stands when the team requires.

Accordingly, roping in both the available overseas pacers is the need of the hour for RCB.

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#3 Show more faith in Indian talents

Kohli and his RCB teammates (picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

Winners and successful teams in the IPL have proved time and again that the international-level tournament is won only when the locals and the Indian talents perform at their best. While successful teams like CSK and MI boast of quality Indian players in all the departments, RCB have always depended more on the overseas players - and that faith has not been repaid yet.

RCB should give chances to the Indian talents warming the bench. But more importantly, the chances should be consistent.

That hasn't been the case so far. RCB have failed to stick with players like Shivam Dube and Prayas Ray Barman.

In order to align themselves with the path to the playoffs, RCB should play the likes of Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi and Navdeep Saini regularly in their matches. Sundar can even provide RCB an option of a powerplay bowler and opening batsman.

Sundar has proven his worth as an opening batsman and displayed his run-getting abilities in the powerplay overs in various T20 leagues, especially in the TNPL.

Based on these suggestions, RCB's ideal playing XI would look like this:

Washington Sundar, Parthiv Patel (wk), Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Shivam Dube, Pawan Negi, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Tim Southee, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini / Mohammad Siraj

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