IPL 2018: 3 players whose inclusion in the playing XI can get RCB back to winning ways

Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to yet another disappointing start to an IPL season. After winning only one of their first four matches, RCB is languishing at the 7th position in the points table.

With players like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Brendon McCullum, Quinton de Kock and Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad, RCB was amongst the top contenders for the title.However, the team has failed to perform collectively, which has resulted in its poor show.

IPL, being a long tournament, gives opportunities to teams to recover from poor starts, and RCB can do the same by making some changes in the playing XI. We will look at 3 such players whose inclusion in the Playing XI can help RCB get back in the winning groove.

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#3 Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali can use the long handle to good effect

Moeen Ali has been part of England's limited-overs squad for a long time now and was bought by RCB for Rs. 1.70 crore at the auction. However, surprisingly he hasn't been included in the playing XI till now.

Ali, who has the ability to play big shots against both seamers as well as spinners, can provide the much-needed stability to RCB's fragile lower-middle order. Also, with RCB's premier spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, giving away too many runs in the middle overs, Ali's inclusion will give another spin option to Virat Kohli.

The England all-rounder can replace Corey Anderson, who wasn't at his best in the match against Mumbai Indians, in the playing XI.

#2 Manan Vohra

Manan Vohra was impressive playing for Kings XI Punjab

Manan Vohra was bought by RCB at the auction for Rs. 1.10 crore. The dashing Punjab batsman was fantastic for his previous franchise, Kings XI Punjab.

He made 229 runs with an impressive strike rate of 144.02 in the 11 matches that he played for Kings in 2017.

Manan Vohra can be a direct replacement for the out-of-form Sarfaraz Khan. In the 3 matches that Sarfaraz has played so far, he has scored a meagre 11 runs. Manan Vohra can open the innings with Quinton de Kock which will allow Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to take control of the game by batting in the middle overs.

#1 Tim Southee

Tim Southee played for Mumbai Indians last season

One of the major reasons for RCB's dismal performance in this year's IPL has been their bowlers' poor form. Bowlers have neither been able to stop the flow of runs nor been able to take wickets at crucial moments.

One player who can solve RCB's bowling woes is Tim Southee. Southee hasn't joined RCB's squad till now, but after the match against Mumbai Indians, Coach Daniel Vettori said that Southee will join the team in a couple of days.

The Kiwi pacer is a veteran in IPL and his ability to bowl tight spells in the powerplays can help RCB's spinners to put pressure in the middle overs. Tim Southee's inclusion in the playing XI can bring an end to RCB's bowling troubles.