IPL 2018: 4 things RCB should do to win again

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The IPL trophy has been eluding RCB and Virat Kohli for last one decade. Even after having the best T20 batsmen of our generation the trophy cabinet is empty. The pressure has been mounting each year and was definitely pumped when RCB finally picked a balanced squad in 2018 auctions.

Even after picking a formidable squad with talented bowlers, all-rounders, and quality overseas players RCB is struggling to win matches. After three humbling losses, RCB is in danger of replicating their last year's poor run. The league is still in the early stages and RCB can definitely make a come back as they have proved in many editions.

Here are some of the tweaks RCB can make to their playing style to turnaround their lackluster performance immediately.


#4 Accept the Sarfaraz blunder

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Sarfaraz Khan in 2018 has scored 11 runs from 3 matches with an average of 3.66 and strike rate of 64.70.

The retention process of IPL was an interesting phase in this year's IPL. The idea of retention was mainly to retain the core of the team. These players were assumed to be extremely valuable for their franchise and letting them out in the auction could increase their price tags.

When many of the teams retained their core players like CSK (Dhoni, Raina, and Jadeja), Mumbai Indians (Rohit, Hardik, and Bumrah), RCB chose to retain Sarfaraz along with Kohli and Ab Devilliers. This was a huge surprise and an uncanny punt.

Sarfaraz Khan who is hailed as a prodigy since 2016 edition of IPL has not produced a single match-winning inning in IPL or in the domestic circuit in the past two years. After playing 41 domestic and IPL matches his average is less than 20, has crossed half-century mark only once and still has not rectified his fitness issues.

Leaving aside the previous performances Sarfaraz has had a poor outing in this year's IPL as well. More disappointing has been the manner of his dismissal in all the 3 matches. Sarfaraz who does not bowl, keep wickets or even an electrifying fielder is making RCB look like a 10 member squad. It is high time RCB acknowledges its blunder and replace Sarfaraz with Manan Vohra who has provided reliable starts for Kings XI Punjab.

In short: Drop Sarfaraz

#3 Getting the foreign player combinations right

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Colin De Grandhomme is in excellent form

The four overseas slots in IPL are more like the trump cards, they are few and crucial. This year RCB has been blessed with the liberty to chose from a good pool of overseas players. Still, even after 4 matches, Virat has not been able to get his foreign combinations right.

Quinton De Kock, Colin De Grandhomme, Chris Woakes / Moeen Ali are all players with dual skills and should walk into the XI any day along with AB de Villiers. RCB does not have Indian replacements for these slots. Whereas Manan Vohra can definitely be a reliable opener in place of Brendon McCullum. Moreover, McCullum has not been in great form but was picked ahead of a player like Colin De Grandhomme who is coming after a splendid performance in England series. Grandhomme can swing the ball upfront and also finish the innings with power hitting. This will definitely take some pressure off AbD and Virat who are expected to finish the innings everytime.

In short: Vohra and Grandhomme should replace McCullum and Sarfaraz.

#2 Spread the batting firepower

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RCB has been heavily dependent on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers

RCB has always been a batting heavy side. The onus to score big always rests on them and this pressure is most often on the shoulders of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. It can be said that the opposition is just 2 good deliveries away from a win. Sending out Virat to open and AbD at one down is a recipe for disaster.

RCB should open with Manan Vohra and De Kock. Even with 30-40 runs on board, Virat can come in at 3 and accelerate, Mandeep at 4 to stabilize, Ab De Villiers at 5 (during a chase or 4 if RCB bats first), Grandhomme at 6 (finisher), Sundar at 7 and Woakes at 8. Even if we lose Virat's wicket early on, we will have Mandeep to stabilize the innings for few overs before we then we can have an Ab De Villiers and Grandhomme's onslaught.

Vohra, Kohli and De Kock can bat with freedom and intent when they know they have some cushion in the middle and lower order. Even if you have the best top 3 batsmen in the world, they will need to have some buffer in the middle order to play their natural game.

#1 Trust in bowling combination

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Mohammed Siraj has been
underutilised
in this season.

Finally, RCB has managed to stitch together a set of bowling options in this year's auction. Virat should really not complain about the pool of talent he has on offer. The real problem has been the team selection. As said before Collin De Grandhomme should have walked into the XI on day 1. He can swing the ball up front and is definitely a better bowler than Corey Anderson.

Mohamad Siraj was coming into IPL with a rich vein of form in Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy. His stint at Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017 IPL stood out in spite of having stalwarts like Bhuvi and Mustafizur. He has impressed with his accurate yorkers, well-directed bouncers, raw pace and subtle variations. Siraj should have been in place of Kulwant Khejroliya from Day 1.

RCB has to be consistent in their bowling combination and let the players settle down. T20s are always a nightmare to bowlers and will be more so if the bowlers are constantly worried about their place in XI.

In short: RCB should play Siraj, Chahal, Sundar, Umesh, Woakes (fast tracks) / Moeen Ali (spinning tracks), Grandhomme consistently. It will provide 6 bowling options and 3 batting options.

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Edited by Amar Anand