IPL 2018: Comprehensive team analysis and probable playing XIs

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Kohli will want to earn an IPL title

Royal Challengers Bangalore have been known to play a bold brand of cricket throughout the past seasons of the IPL. With Virat Kohli at the helm, RCB are one of the top contenders to lift the trophy this year.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Squad

Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Manan Vohra, Kulwant Khejroliya, Aniket Choudhary, Navdeep Saini, Murugan Ashwin, Mandeep Singh, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Mohd Siraj, Nathan Coulter-Nile (replaced by Corey Anderson), Aniruddha Joshi, Parthiv Patel, Tim Southee, Pavan Deshpande

Batsmen - RCB have always been a batting heavy side. This year they went with the same strategy as they retained Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers and Sarfaraz Khan before the auctions. In the auctions, they bought the likes of Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum who played some scintillating innings at the top of the order for their previous franchises. They also bought Manan Vohra and Mandeep Singh in the auction. The Punjab duo have had a successful stint for the teams that they have played for in the past and they will give options to the team management in case of injuries to their international stars.

All-rounders - RCB made a conscious effort of filling their squad with a lot of all-rounders to reduce their over-dependence on Kohli and de Villiers. To solve the issue they bought Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme, Chris Woakes and Pawan Negi. Even though none of these players have set the IPL on fire so far, they provide the much-needed flexibility to the team.

Bowlers - RCB have struggled with their bowling throughout the IPL. In a bid to change their fortunes, RCB went for a complete overhaul in the bowling attack. They retained Yuzvendra Chahal using the RTM card in the auction. However, their prize acquisition was the new spin sensation of Indian Cricket, Washington Sundar. Sundar is going through a purple patch and RCB management will want that to continue in the IPL as well. They also have an abundance of fast bowlers with International pacer Tim Southee and Indian pacers like Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Mohd Siraj, Aniket Choudhary and Kulwant Khejroliya in the side. With such a strong outfit, RCB can win their first IPL title.

Predicted playing XI - Quinton de Kock (WK), Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli (C), Ab de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Pawan Negi, Chris Woakes, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd Siraj