IPL 2018: How Virat Kohli’s boys line up in the tournament

Middle Order

Virat Kohli and ABD hold the key to batting while Sarfaraz will look to finish things off

Virat Kohli

With over 4000 runs in the IPL at an overall strike rate close to 130, the skipper comes to the crease at No.3. He reads the game well and can go according to the situation especially when it comes to chasing.

Having tasted phenomenal success with the national team recently, he will certainly push his team to change the fortune this year. He holds the key to the team's batting and can accelerate the game as and when required. The fans will be really eyeing towards him to deliver and if he can replicate his current form, the RCB supporters may have lots of reasons to cheer.

AB de Villiers.

He is the most loved foreign cricketer in the country and has earned his reputation as well as respect over the years. Popularly known as “Mr.360”, he is skillful, cheeky, and can simply decimate any bowling opposition on his day.

Like the skipper, he reads the game well and has a wide array of stroke under his armor and is very agile in the field. Both Virat Kohli and him enjoy a nice camaraderie and that holds the core of this RCB team. He scored a gritty century in the ongoing Test series against Australia and is in a good nick. With a strike rate close to 150 and an average of 38.66, he will look to make things uneasy for the opposition and will surely entertain the fans.

Sarfaraz Khan.

The cricketing world was taken by surprise when the RCB management decided to retain Sarfaraz Khan instead of players like KL Rahul and Kedar Jadhav. The former U-19 star was struggling through injury in the last season and the RCB management chose to have faith on his talent.

Prior to that season, the young hit-man rose to fame when he piled up runs in the domestic circuit and made valiant efforts to take the U-19 team to World Cup finals. He is a clean stroke-maker and yet can play fierce brand of cricket to finish things off. He has worked on his fitness and techniques in the interim period. With a strike rate of above 170 in the IPL and the management by his side, it's his time to step up and repay the faith.