IPL 2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore's strongest possible playing XI

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) squad looks far more balanced in 2019 than ever. The proposed combination of XI will provide RCB with 8 bowling options, 8 batting options with one wicket keeper. This wide variety of combinations have been unheard in RCB’s history of over a decade. Virat Kohli and the team management should now put their head together and stick to a stable XI and instil confidence in its players. Because this XI has all it takes to get to the playoffs and the only ingredient needed is a stable and calm captaincy who doesn't chop and change the team every match.

Openers

In 2018 IPL, RCB tried a host of openers like Quinton De Kock, Brendon McCullum, Manan Vohra, Virat Kohli, Parthiv Patel and even Moeen Ali. There were in total 8 different combinations tried by this top-heavy batting unit in the previous season. This time around the team management has turned out smart and released many of the top order batsmen from the team. Hence RCB can now stick with a tried and tested combination of Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli.

#1 Parthiv Patel

Parthiv has been a decent quick fire 30 runs player at the top. He also brings in the left hand – right-hand combination into the picture. He also has the ability of playing in the air, which fits perfectly the power-play phase. Parthiv will handle the wicketkeeping duties behind the stumps. As a fact, Parthiv definitely needs to improve his wicket-keeping skills than last season.

#2 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli opening the innings for RCB needs no argument. He has a stupendous record decimating the opposition single-handed on many occasions. There is no doubt the best batsman in the team (and World) should face the maximum deliveries. Hence Virat opening the innings is a no-brainer.

Middle order

#3 Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali has to be one of the most under-rated cricketers in recent times. The southpaw from England is an explosive batsman at the top and has a T20 century to his name for Worcestershire in 2018.

RCB has often over-relied on Gayle, Kohli and De Villiers. Off late it has been only the latter two who have carried the burden. In one of the matches against SRH in 2018, Moeen Ali hammered 34-ball 65 with 6 sixes and 2 fours. It was the only occasion when RCB won a match without much contribution from Kohli and Ab De Villiers.

Ali has also improved his bowling manifolds and is a frontline spinner for England. His disciplined off-spin can be handy to accompany Chahal’s leg spin.

#4 AB De Villiers

AB De Villiers is a T20 legend. He might have retired from international cricket but is still in an exemplary form. He has set the stage alive in the on-going Manzi league in South Africa. De Villiers has been the backbone of RCB batting and he should continue to do that.

If the opening partnership and run-rate have been good, he could probably come one-down. If the situation is tense and the chase is tricky, then RCB should reserve De Villiers to come in at No.4, because in previous editions when Kohli used to open and De Villiers coming in at No.3, all that the opponent team wanted were two back to back wickets to seal the game. The plan is to spread the batting firepower.

Moreover, De Villiers's presence in the crease is invaluable in the final overs. He is one of the only few players in world cricket who can hit sixes of yorkers and slower balls. So Moeen Ali is suited at No.3 and De Villiers can walk in at No.4 and finish the innings in a flurry.

All-rounders

RCB has always stumbled in finding the right balance of batsmen and bowlers. Mainly because the team lacked genuine all-rounders. This time around the team management has executed their strategies well and bought some quality all-rounders like Colin de Grandhomme, Marcus Stoinis, Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Akshdeep Nath.

#5 Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis has had a resurrection to his T20 form in the latter part of 2018. RCB made a smart move in trading him for Mandeep Singh with Kings XI Punjab. Stoinis is a hard hitter with a good bit of experience and has shown the same in the recent T20Is vs India. He hit some mighty blows in large Australian stadiums.

More importantly, he defended 13 runs in the final over bowling against India. His use of slower balls and other variations should increase Kohli’s options for death overs.

#6 Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Not many have noticed that Gurkeerat Mann has played for Indian national team. He debuted against Australia in Melbourne in 2016. He is a lower middle-order batsman and can bowl right arm off break.

Gurkeerat has a healthy strike rate of 123.12 in T20s. He is a solid striker of the ball under pressure. In only his second match Gurkeerat had scored a 29 off 12 balls to pull off a thrilling last-ball victory for Kings XI Punjab against Deccan Chargers. Since RCB has had a problem of top order collapse more often than other teams, the longer the lower middle order the better. Hence Gurkeerat is drafted in to add more depth. His off-breaks can come in handy in the middle overs.

#7 Shivam Dubey

Shivam Dubey is the recent heartthrob of the IPL. The swashbuckling all-rounder from Mumbai has been smashing sixes at will in the domestic circuit. RCB brought the services of Dubey for 5 crores at the recent auctions to beef up their lower order. The ability to clear boundary ropes in crucial situations can come handy while chasing huge totals at Chinnaswamy.

His presence along with Gurkeerat and Stoinis can free up Kohli and AB De Villiers to play with a clear mind and lighter shoulders. His medium pace bowling can also be a good changeup in the middle overs.

Bowlers

#8 Nathan Coulter-Nile

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Nathan Coulter-Nile was supposed to be the strike bowler for RCB in 2018. Unfortunately, he was injured and missed the entire tournament. This time around he is fit and in form too. His fiery pace is back along with some new found skills with the bat. Coulter-Nile has scored some important runs for Australia in the recent ODI series against India. He can team up with Umesh Yadav to start the proceedings with the new ball and can also bowl in the death with Marcus Stoinis or Mohammed Siraj. His presence can assure Kohli of the death over bowling and this can allow Umesh’s four overs of lethal bowling to be used up front.

#9 Yuzvendra Chahal

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Chahal has been the mainstay of RCB’s bowling unit. His willy leg spin has ensured there are wickets at regular intervals and crucial stages. Last season Chahal went onto pick 12 wickets from 14 matches with an astounding economy of 7.26 per over.

#10 Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav has been at his best bowling up-front. His fiery spells have brought wickets in the power play. Kohli should not be shy of using Umesh’s four overs in one go when he is swinging the ball well.

#11 Mohammed Siraj

In the previous season, it was baffling to see Mohammed Siraj not playing the first few matches for RCB. Though Siraj is a work in progress, he has definitely improved leaps and bounds with death bowling. Chinnaswamy has always been a difficult ground to bowl in the death overs.

A young bowler, with a large heart, with variations and the intent to learn, has to be given a longer rope. Virat has to assure Siraj a minimum of 6 games and trust him to partner either Stoinis or Coulter-Nile to bowl the final overs of the game.

This can be the most balanced XI RCB can field in the coming edition of IPL. In the place of injuries and players going home for International duty, there are able replacements in the likes of Heinrich Klaasen, Shimron Hetmeyer and others.