3 Reasons why Royal Challengers Bangalore could win their maiden IPL title in 2020

The upcoming 2020 IPL season will indeed be a challenge for Virat Kohli and his boys. The team, led by Kohli, has had a horrendous run in the last three years. They finished last on the points table in the years 2017 and 2019, and sixth out of eight teams in 2018.

Kohli will be keen to get his team to a winning start in the upcoming season of the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have qualified for the IPL final on three occasions - in the years 2009, 2011 and 2016. However, they are yet to win the coveted IPL trophy.

While the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers have been an integral part of the RCB outfit, the lack of performances from other players has often resulted in the downfall of the team in the past.

Luckily, the team management of RCB acquired the services of experienced overseas players like Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Kane Richardson, and a few others to strengthen their team in the 2020 IPL auction. The team now looks like a more balanced outfit with a good blend of Indian and overseas players.

On that note, lat's take a look at why the 2020 IPL will be a perfect opportunity for RCB to win their maiden IPL trophy:

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#1. Variety in the opening combination

Aaron Finch is a welcome addition

In the past, RCB have been over-reliant on the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to get them across the finishing line on several occasions. Lack of options as openers has forced Virat Kohli to give up his number 3 batting position and he has opened the batting for RCB several times.

The 2020 IPL season may see Virat Kohli getting back to his number 3 batting position as RCB have an experienced opener in Aaron Finch to open the batting. The Australian skipper in the ODI and T20 format is an exceptional T20 player and has the knack of scoring big runs in the T20 format.

Parthiv Patel had a reasonable IPL season in 2019 and in all likelihood, will open the batting with Finch in the 2020 IPL. The presence of Finch will firstly ensure that there is a left-hand right-hand combination at the top of the order. Finch has a considerable experience of playing T20 cricket around the globe and can guide Patel while batting together.

Apart from Finch and Patel, RCB have the likes of Devdutt Padikkal and Joshua Phillippe as their back up openers. The 19-year-old Padikkal was the highest run-scorer in the 2019-2020 Vijay Hazare trophy and scored consistently at the top of the order. He will look to make his presence felt on the big stage if and when he gets an opportunity.

Also see – IPL 2020 time table

Joshua Phillippe too has tasted success as an opener in Big Bash cricket and if he gets an opportunity, he will look to replicate his Big Bash League performances in IPL.

Thus RCB have a variety of options in the opening department which will ensure that their skipper and the other middle-order batsmen bat at their regular batting positions.

The very thought of Finch opening the batting with Parthiv Patel followed by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers may cause nightmares in the camp of the opponents.

#2. All-Rounders with International cricket experience

Shivam Dube is an exceptional talent

The presence of all-rounders is crucial in any form of cricket, especially T20 cricket. RCB are blessed with a few good all-rounders for the 2020 IPL season.

Shivam Dube, on the basis of his IPL performances and his performances at the domestic level, made his debut in ODI as well as T20 International for team India. He has contributed with both the bat and the ball in the limited opportunities in which he has represented India and will look to cement his place in the Indian team for the 2020 World Cup in Australia on the basis of IPL performances.

Moeen Ali is another all-rounder who can change the course of a T20 game with the bat and/or the ball. He can be used as an aggressor at the top of the order when quick runs are needed and he can also play the role of a finisher in the death over. He can be a useful bowler in the power play overs and get wickets at a regular interval for his team. He was an integral part of the England ODI team which triumphed in the 2019 World Cup and will look to contribute to IPL cricket too.

Chris Morris is another all-rounder who can create an impact in the 2020 IPL. He picks up wickets in the power play overs and can bowl well in the death overs too. With the bat, he gets hit the big sixes and scores quick runs for the team in the death overs.

Apart from the 3 all-rounders mentioned above, RCB have the likes of Washington Sundar, Isuru Udana and Pawan Negi who are also impactful players and can contribute both with the bat and the ball when needed.

#3. Experienced bowling unit

Dale Steyn will lead the bowling unit for RCB

RCB indeed have variety in their bowling attack.

In Yuzvendra Chahal, RCB have a quality wrist-spinner who is very effective in the middle overs. Washington Sundar is a very effective bowler especially in the power-play overs as he plays the dual role of controlling the flow of runs and picking up wickets in the first 6 overs. Moeen Ali is also is an effective spinner and the trio can be important players on slow pitches in the IPL.

RCB have variety in their pace bowling attack too. Dale Steyn will look to spearhead the pace unit and his experience will be handy in guiding the young Indian bowlers. Kane Richardson too has played a considerable amount of T20 cricket around the globe and can be used as an option when Dale Steyn is rested.

The Indian fast bowlers representing RCB for the 2020 IPL comprise of Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Navdeep Saini. The trio will look to set the stage of fire with their performances in the IPL as they will aim for their place in the Indian T20 team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The likes of Yadav, Siraj, and Saini can generate a considerable amount of pace and will look to unsettle the batsmen with the said pace.

All in all, RCB have good quality spinners and variety in the pace attack which is essential in T20 cricket which may be one of the factors in their success in the upcoming IPL season.