IPL 2019: 5 personnel changes RCB need to make for their match against Rajasthan Royals

RCB is one of the most popular sides in the Indian Premier League for cricketing as well as non-cricketing reasons. Their matches are invariably sold out, their social media presence is incredible, and they have some of the greatest players in their ranks.

That is true in 2019 and has been the case since the beginning of the tournament. The who's-who of world cricket have represented RCB in the past, to make the team a perennially star-studded one.

And yet RCB are still searching for their first IPL title. Every year there is hope, but the team fails to deliver on the promise.

Virat Kohli's men have failed to capitalize on their moments in the past, but they have never looked quite as listless as they do in IPL 2019. They went down in flames against CSK in the tournament opener, were robbed against the Mumbai Indians and were humbled and humiliated by the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kohli looks tired and jaded, AB de Villiers is like a deer in headlights with the bat in hand, and no one else has stepped up. The window is closing in on RCB quickly, and they have to conjure a miracle to turn things around.

They have the players for the job, but whether they can actually go out and get it done remains to be seen.

RCB will take on the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on April 2, 2019. Both teams are searching for their first victory, and both find themselves at the bottom of the points table. If RCB want to get off the mark in the tournament, they have to make some changes to their playing XI. As many as five, if you are to take my word.

Let us take a look at the players RCB should bring in for their match against Rajasthan Royals.

#1 Heinrich Klaasen in for Parthiv Patel

Heinrich Klaasen

There is a very strong case to be made that Parthiv Patel is the most in-form batsmen in the Bangalore setup currently. If you believe that, then it does not make much sense to drop him. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

The southpaw takes up too many balls at the start, and rarely does he make a match-defining contribution. For a team that is heavily dependent on Kohli and De Villiers, it is of no use to bat him in the top order, and he cannot bat anywhere else.

In that case, step up Heinrich Klaasen.

Klaasen was picked up by RCB late in the auction for his base price of Rs. 50 lakh. He made his debut in the IPL for Rajasthan last season, but generated little interest before RCB picked him up this time around.

Klaasen is a clean striker of the ball, can tonk the spinners well and is a fantastic wicket-keeper. He will provide much needed depth to that floundering RCB middle order.

Who will open the batting for RCB in that case? A certain AB de Villiers. As I said earlier, desperate times call for desperate measures.

#2 Marcus Stoinis in for Shimron Hetmyer

Marcus Stoinis

Shimron Hetmyer is arguably the best batsman to emerge from the Caribbean islands since Chris Gayle in the late 1990s. Hetmyer has set the international stage on fire in very quick time, and a lot was expected of him in this IPL season.

It came as no surprise then that RCB brought him for a whopping Rs. 4.20 crore. But things have not worked out well for Hetmyer so far.

He has struggled to get going, and his lackadaisical approach has not helped his cause much. He is a fantastic talent and RCB should continue to invest in him, but now is the right time to drop him, for his as well as the team's sake.

Hetmyer can be replaced in the team by the returning Marcus Stoinis. Stoinis is coming off a 5-0 series win against Pakistan in the UAE, and while he did not have much impact over there, his value in limited overs cricket is undeniable.

Stoinis has not been bowling much due to a broken thumb, but is one of the cleanest ball strikers in the business and has enjoyed much success in India, both with Australia and Kings XI Punjab. He had a great season opening the batting with the Melbourne Stars in the BBL, but RCB should look to utilize him in the middle order - where his ability to play spin bowling should come in handy.

Returning players have turned around fortunes in the IPL before, and RCB would be hoping that Stoinis will do the same for them.

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#3 Tim Southee in for Colin de Grandhomme

Tim Southee in action for the Mumbai Indians. (Image source: BCCI/IPLT20.com)

Royal Challengers Bangalore have struggled with death bowling for quite some time now, and yet decided to leave out Tim Southee for some reason. They went in with Colin de Grandhomme, and it has been a disaster to say the least.

De Grandhomme was the main culprit in the loss to MI, and his bizarre run out against SRH was further proof that he should be nowhere near the playing XI.

Death bowling issues cannot be solved with the inclusion of one particular bowler, but the presence of Southee would give Kohli a wicket taking option, both at the top of the innings and at the death. Southee is brilliant when it comes to swinging for the fences with the bat in hand and can be used as a pinch hitter as well, if RCB decided to be a little more creative.

The ball can often swing prodigiously under lights at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Having Southee on your side is a must in that scenario.

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#4 Washington Sundar in for Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali (picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

Washington Sundar shot to fame with the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2017 IPL. He played a crucial role in taking them to the finals, and was bought into the RCB squad in 2018 with much fanfare.

Sundar did not do much in the tournament last year, and was dumped to the sidelines. Kohli's treatment of players leaves a lot to be desired at times, especially with RCB, and Sundar is no exception.

Sundar is a fantastic cricketer who can open the bowling, and is more than decent with the bat. He should ideally be included in the side in place of Moeen Ali, who plays a similar role but has not done anything of note in his IPL career so far.

Sundar can open the batting alongside AB de Villiers, play his shots with freedom at the top of the order, and provide a good cushion to the middle order. If RCB have to do well in the IPL this season, and in the future as well, they have to learn to back their younger players, and they could do much worse than backing Washington Sundar.

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#5 Pawan Negi in for Prayas Ray Barman

Negi has been terribly underused by RCB in the IPL. Image Source: BCCI/IPLT20.com

Prayas Ray Barman was thrown to the wolves against SRH, and while he should not be judged harshly for that performance, Barman should be replaced in the team by Pawan Negi, Negi has been very impressive with the ball for Royal Challengers Bangalore, taking 17 wickets at an average of 14. He is a very good accumulator with the bat too, and would provide much needed balance to the RCB team.

The left arm angle is always a welcome relief to any captain. And with the Rajasthan team having no left handed batsmen other than Ben Stokes, Negi becomes all the more important..

Negi is only 26, and has seen more ups and downs in his career than most people see in a lifetime. He may be a meme player for the internet, but he has shown that he has the capability to punch above his weight if given the chance.

Bangalore need players to come good, and grab the bull by the horns. Negi is a perfect match.