IPL 2020: 3 Players RCB should look to target at the auction 

Despite having the services of elite players like Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan over the years, RCB have failed to win the coveted IPL trophy so far. They have reached the final on three occasions (in 2009, 2011 and 2016) out of 12 completed seasons, but have never tasted silverware.

The RCB team had yet another unsuccessful run in the last IPL season as they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive year. The batting department has always been their forte but in the 2019 edition they struggled even in that discipline. They were over-reliant on Kohli and De Villiers to score the bulk of the runs, and that often left them vulnerable to mid-innings collapses.

Historically, the bowling department has been RCB's Achilles heel, and it continued to be a major issue for them last season as well. Their bowlers struggled to contain the opposition batsmen which in turn increased the run-scoring pressure on their inexperienced middle-order batsmen like Shimron Heytmer, Shivam Dube and Collin de Grandhomme.

Yuzvendra Chahal was their best bowler in the last season as he picked up 18 wickets.

The RCB team management needs to address these issues and look to build a more balanced squad for the next season. At the IPL 2020 auction, they primarily need to look at quality bowlers and all-rounders to bolster their lower-middle order and bowling lineup.

Here are 3 players RCB should look to buy at the auction to strengthen their squad:

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#3 James Neesham

James Neesham

RCB released two all-rounders, Marcus Stoinis and Colin de Grandhomme, before the auctions. They will be looking to acquire the services of some quality all-rounders to fill this void, and Glenn Maxwell and James Neesham might be the two prime candidates on RCB's radar at the upcoming auction.

Neesham's selection will provide RCB an attacking option with the bat in the middle order. He also showcased his wicket-taking ability with the ball in the World Cup, so the team management can bank on him to deliver 2 or 3 overs per match.

The balance of the final playing XI was a major concern for RCB during the latest edition of the IPL. Their middle order excluding De Villiers is highly inexperienced, and they often struggled to hold the innings together. Neesham's inclusion might be an optimal solution in that context, to reduce the pressure on the top order players.

#2 Chris Morris

Chris Morris

Chris Morris is one of the most under-rated bowlers in the history of the IPL. He has played for teams like Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals in the past and performed reasonably well.

Morris was released by the Delhi franchise this year after he had a below-par season in IPL 2019. He is up for grabs at the upcoming auctions, and would be on the radar of several franchises.

Since his IPL debut in 2013, Morris has impressed everyone with his consistent yorkers and bouncers at a high pace during the slog overs. Apart from being a quality T20 bowler, Morris is also a big hitter of the ball.

His all-round abilities would provide RCB with much better balance going into IPL 2020.

#1 Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019

Pat Cummins is unarguably one of the best all-format bowlers in the world right now. He is a hugely talented cricketer who can bowl well at any stage of the game.

Cummins has shown the ability to bowl impeccable yorkers at a high pace and deceptive slower balls during the slog overs. These attributes make him a lethal bowler in the shortest format of the game.

Cummins would be an invaluable addition to the RCB bowling line-up and can potentially turn their fortunes around. He might be the strike bowler that RCB have been missing the last few years, ever since the departure of the lethal Mitchell Starc.