IPL 2019: 5 Players who RCB should sign in the auctions

The IPL buzz is seeming to increase as the preparations have begun for yet another edition of the extravagant league. The Indian Premier League will be going into its record twelfth year. This time around, the IPL is set to take place much earlier than usual with a quadrennial event (World Cup 2019) on the cards.

The 2019 IPL Player Auction is said to have a fixed date of 16th December with Goa being the venue. This year, the auction isn't expected to be an arduous affair as the mega-auction took place last year, and no major restructuring will be needed.

Besides, this year, a franchise will be given a cap of three crores along with the balance left after last year's auction. Thus, the franchises will have to spend judiciously while filling up their voids for the 2019 IPL. Moreover, a trading window will also precede the 2019 IPL Auction wherein any two franchises would strike a deal while trading players of their choices. Hence, the 2019 IPL Auction isn't expected to include a lot of players who were bought by any of the franchises in the mega auctions last year.

Thus, this year's auction is expected to feature a lot of unsold players from the 2018 IPL Auctions. Besides that, 2019 IPL Auction will also include those replacement players who were recruited by the franchises after the auctions.

Hence, after being through the details of 2019 IPL Auctions let us look at five players that Royal Challengers Bangalore should sign in the 2019 IPL Auctions.

RCB has had a sorry run in IPL 2018 where they finished at the sixth position and failed to qualify for the knockout stages. RCB possessed a seemingly strong team on paper but could make most of it.

Thus, the RCB management will look to instil some changes in their squad in the 2019 IPL Auctions. Besides, Bangalore would also want to make the due additions pending IPL 2019's probability to shift out of India.

So, here are five players that RCB should eye in the coming 2019 IPL Auctions.

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#1 Rajneesh Gurbani: Status in IPL 2018 Auctions - Unsold

Rajneesh Gurbani has had a decent run in domestic cricket in the recent past

Rajneesh Gurbani, a young prodigy from Vidarbha, has been on an exponential curve in the scheme of domestic cricket. Gurbani happens to be one of those cricketers who are equally competent with the white as well as the red cherry. Although Rajneesh doesn't hold his expertise in pace, he does have that uncanny ability to nip the ball off the pitch and move the ball in the air as well.

Riding on the back of some excellent performances, Gurbani has become a regular affair in the Vidarbha side, irrespective of the format. In T20s, the Vidarbha pacer has grabbed 13 wickets at an average of 26.07, strike-rate of 20.30, and an economy of 7.70.

In Gurbani, RCB would get a decent fast bowler in their fast bowling camp. Besides, Gurbani could also become a viable option for RCB in IPL 2019 where he would be asked to fill up the void of a non-overseas bowler besides Umesh Yadav. Barring Umesh, RCB lacks a quality non-overseas bowler who could regularly give Bangalore four overs without leaking runs.

Thus, with umpteen qualities up his sleeve, Rajneesh Gurbani calls for a good option for RCB for IPL 2019. Moreover, acknowledging the fact that IPL 2019 might move outside India, an addition of decent fast bowler without hindering the overall combination will come up as the uppermost priority for RCB is in the coming IPL auctions.

In addition to that, Rajneesh Gurbani wasn't part of any of the franchises last year which makes his acquisition a possible task for RCB in the IPL 2019 Auctions.

#2 Eoin Morgan: Status in IPL 2018 Auctions - Unsold

Surprisingly, Eoin Morgan went unsold in IPL 2018 Player Auctions

Eoin Morgan, Irish-born England captain, has been one of the greatest players for England in the shorter formats of the game. Besides, he is also the highest run-getter for Englishmen in ODI cricket. Morgan boasts to be a decent middle-order batsman who possesses an arsenal of shots aligned with a qualitative free-stroke making.

Morgan's deal could help RCB to stabilize their middle-order with an essence of the experience in the side. With the likes of Virat Kohli, Brendon McCullum, and AB de Villiers, Bangalore's top order looks set. Besides, RCB also has a decent lower-order with Moeen Ali or Colin de Grandhomme. However, they lack experience in their middle-order. In Morgan, RCB would have the privilege to unleash their real potential in the top-order with a stabilizer in their middle-order.

Moreover, Eoin also possesses a decent amount of IPL experience. In addition to that, IPL 2019's probability of shifting to South Africa strengthens the case for Morgan's recruitment. Hence, Eoin Morgan coming on board with RCB will do wonders for them in IPL 2019.

#3 Prasidh Krishna: Status in IPL 2018 Auctions - Name not called out

Note: Prasidh Krishna's name wasn't called out in IPL 2018 Player Auctions. However, later he was drafted in KKR as a replacement player.

Prasidh Krishna was overlooked in the IPL 2018 Player Auctions before being a replacement bowler

Prasidh Krishna, a young lad from Karnataka, did wonders for KKR in IPL 2018 after being brought in as a replacement player. Interestingly, KKR ignored Prasidh on the day of the IPL 2018 Player Auctions. Post the auctions, KKR recruited Prasidh as a net bowler for them in the IPL 2018. However, an unfortunate injury to KKR's U-19 sensation Kamlesh Nagarkoti in IPL 2018 open the IPL doors for Prasidh as he was called to join the team straight-away.

The Karnataka bowler played seven matches in IPL 2018 and grabbed ten wickets at an average of 26.00, strike-rate of 16.80, and an economy of 9.28 which also include a four-wicket haul. Although Krishna went for quick runs, his strike-rate was something that nullified its effect as he was successful in chipping wickets at regular intervals.

Prasidh could turn out to be a prospective addition for RCB in IPL 2019. Having been trained under Glenn McGrath at MRF Pace Academy and Jeff Thompsom at the Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence, Prasidh has had a good exposure of legendary fast bowlers.

Hence, in Prasidh, RCB could solve their bowling enigma for the upcoming edition of IPL. Moreover, with IPL 2019 seemingly moving to South Africa, RCB should target Krishna in the IPL 2019 Auctions as it might be the case that a team has to field four or maybe five fast bowlers.

#4 Kyle Abbott - Status in IPL 2018 Auctions - Unsold

With IPL 2019's probability to shift to South Africa, Abbott might prove to be a prospective option for RCB

Another proposed addition that RCB could make in their squad is of a T20 specialist overseas bowler in the name of Kyle Abbott. The South-African right arm pacer specializes in generating good pace while swinging the ball with an exceptional control which can unsettle any opposition.

Kyle Abbott has had a great run in the T20Is for South Africa. Having played 21 T20Is for South Africa, Abbott has scalped 26 wickets at an average of 22.26, strike-rate of 16.7, and an economy of 7.96 with the best figures being 3 for 20. Besides, he has also played 97 games for other T20 franchises from which he has grabbed 88 wickets.

Hence, RCB could considerably benefit from Abbott. Moreover, his constrained economy would also add up to his credentials. Barring Chris Woakes, RCB lacked the overseas support in their bowling in IPL 2018. Thus, with Kyle Abbott, RCB would fill that void to make their bowling more accountable. In addition to that, if ever IPL 2019 shifts out of India or even if IPL shifts to South Africa, Kyle Abbott will be of much greater importance.

#5 Moises Henriques: Status in IPL 2018 Auctions - Unsold

RCB might

benifit

by drafting Moises Henriques back to their squad for IPL 2019

Moises Henriques, a Portugal born Australian all-rounder, has made a name for himself while playing the T20 leagues all over the world. With an immense experience on his side, Henriques boasts to be one of the best T20 all-rounders across the globe. With an ability to slog the ball out of the ground and chip in with some crucial wickets in the middle, Henriques calls for an upright choice for RCB.

In Moises, Bangalore would get a decent middle-order batsman who can control the innings on his back and finish the innings as well. Moreover, Henriques' addition could also provide RCB with an able bowler who can contribute with the white cherry at an exceptional strike-rate and a decent economy rate. In addition to that, Henriques is swift in the field as well. Thus, Moises calls for a complete package for RCB ahead of the IPL 2019 Auctions.

Furthermore, Henriques' great sense of acclimatization posits the cause for his recruitment by RCB in IPL 2019. Thus, the Portgual born cricketer happens to be one of those players whom RCB needs to keep an eye upon in the IPL 2019 Auctions.