IPL 2020: 3 players RCB should target in the IPL auction 

Royal Challengers Bangalore have never been able to win the coveted Indian Premier League trophy despite having one of the mightiest squads in the competition. The Bengaluru-based franchise is the home of Indian skipper Virat Kohli and also Mr. 360 AB de Villiers, yet, they have never been able to capture the IPL trophy.

The team management, however, has taken some bold decisions ahead of the upcoming auction as they have brought in some big names in the coaching staff. Ahead of the auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore would have definitely set some plans which they would like to execute in the auction room.

While they have a star-studded squad already, here are the three players that RCB should target in the IPL 2020 auction.

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#1 Tom Banton

Somerset v Kent Spitfires - Vitality Blast

20-year-old sensation from England Tom Banton has become the talk of the town because of his magnificent performances in the Vitality Blast. Having a look at the overall career stats of Banton’s limited-overs career, he has played 18 List A matches, aggregating 524 runs at an average of 30.82.

However, his numbers are much, much better in the T20 format where he has scored 591 runs in just 16 innings. Royal Challengers Bangalore had bought Shimron Hetmyer for a hefty price in the previous year. But, the West Indian batsman could not live up to expectations.

Thus, RCB can look to free some of their funds by releasing Hetmyer and purchasing the services of Banton. Plus, of course, the Englishman can play the role of the wicket-keeper for Virat Kohli’s side. Thus, he can also emerge as Parthiv Patel’s replacement in case the Gujarat-born player plays poorly in the earlier matches of the season.

A lot of teams will have their eye on Banton. But, RCB should look to go after him because he can prove to be the missing piece of their jigsaw puzzle.

Also see – World Test Championship points table

#2 Sheldon Cottrell

Sheldon Cottrell came into the limelight during the ICC World Cup 2019

The first player from the Caribbean to feature on this list is left-arm fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell. The West Indian pacer had impressed a lot during the 2019 World Cup and also, his performances in CPL 2019 have been great. Playing for the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Cottrell scalped 12 wickets in just 8 games to take his team to the playoffs. Despite bowling in the power play overs, his economy rate was under 8 runs an over which shows how brilliantly he bowled.

In the last season of IPL, the pace bowlers had let the Royal Challengers Bangalore down. The likes of Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Mohammed Siraj and Marcus Stoinis conceded runs at a frightening rate.

If RCB sign Cottrell in the auction, they can form a terrific bowling combination of Navdeep Saini and the West Indian. Also, they can include either Yadav or Siraj as the third seamer and use them in the middle overs.

Besides, this will also give them a right-hand/left-hand bowling combination in the power play overs. Thus, it will be a win-win situation for RCB if they snap up Sheldon Cottrell in the auction.

#3 Lendl Simmons

Lendl Simmons has a great record in the T20 format

Caribbean opener Lendl Simmons still is one of the best opening batsmen in the shortest format of the game. His form in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League tournament, where he has amassed 430 runs in 12 matches reiterates the aforementioned statement.

Simmons also has a great record in the IPL. The right-handed batsman has played in 29 IPL games aggregating 1,079 runs at an astounding average of 39.96. In the last edition of the tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore had struggled at the top because of their openers’ failures.

In this case, they can reunite Parthiv Patel with his former Mumbai Indians teammate, Simmons or send the West Indian batsman to open the innings with Virat Kohli in IPL 2020.

The three-time runners-up can benefit a lot by signing Simmons because his inclusion will definitely reduce the pressure on the likes of AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer and Shivam Dube.