IPL 2018: A look at how RCB could line-up this season

#6 Colin De Grandhomme

De Grandhomme can hit the ball fair distance out of the boundary

Given that Kohli loves fast-bowling all-rounders, which is evident for his liking towards Hardik Pandya in the Indian team, the RCB captain will definitely go in with the New Zealand all-rounder.

De Grandhomme is very handy with the bat coming in at No.6 and tanks the ball a fair distance out of the boundary.

Moeen Ali, the spin-bowling all-rounder may not get to play much in this IPL. De Grandhomme bowls at a decent pace and can almost always give a couple of good overs to his captain.

Although he does not have a great IPL record, he has been in great form for the Kiwis off late and would be hoping to make a huge contribution to his new franchise.

IPL stats

Matches 12, Runs 126, Average 15.75, Strike Rate 136.96, 100s 0, 50s 0, HS 36

Wickets 4, Average 33.75, Economy Rate 8.44, BBI 4/3

#7 Chris Woakes

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Chris Woakes, the costliest buy for RCB at this year’s auction at 7.4 crore, is a very skillful T20 bowler.

He can bowl a tidy line and length at the start of the innings and can be mightily effective in the death overs with his variations and deadly yorkers.

He will most likely open the bowling for RCB and will be entrusted with the responsibility to make early inroads.

RCB have another bowling option in Nathan Coulter-Nile who might not feature in the playing XI in every game because of the four foreign player rule but he will get the odd game in favourable conditions.

Woakes is also very good with the bat and has played some good knocks down the order for England in the recent past.

He has a career strike rate of 136 in T20s batting at five or six. His numbers are even more impressive at the international level where he strikes at 144 and has a batting average of 30 in eight T20Is.

IPL stats

Matches 13, Wickets 17, Average 22.71, Economy Rate 8.77, BBI 6/3

Runs 46, Average 11.5, Strike Rate 97.87, 100s 0, 50s 0, HS 18