IPL 2020 Auction: 5 players RCB could look to sign ahead of the season

In this segment, we look at five underrated players whom the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should sign to bolster their squad. RCB have always gone after big-name players, many of whom have failed to live up to expectations. Will a slightly different approach help?

In the past, RCB has always been guilty of losing from must-win positions. A lack of presence of mind in crunch situations has always hampered their chances of qualifying. In a given match, they start strong but are unable to maintain the same tempo until the end of the game. Mistakes with the bat, ball and on the field have always been their undoing.

Heading into this year's auction, RCB have retained 12 players, which includes only two overseas players in AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali. With the board bringing in new coaching set up in Mike Hesson and Simon Katich, the expectation is to shake things up and start afresh. The main strengths of this current unit are the top order, spin bowling, and a fairly decent Indian pace attack.

Hence, as always, death bowling is of top priority. Death bowling has been their Achilles heel for quite some time now and must be addressed. Likewise, a big-hitting finisher to bulk up the middle order is also the need of the hour. A few more all-round options would also add to the versatility of this squad. The remaining batting slots can be occupied by young Indian batsmen, complementing the international players. But with only a sum of INR 27.90 Cr and 13 slots to fill, the RCB think-tank will have to form an auction strategy based around value-for-money players.

The Karnataka State team have done very well in limited-overs cricket, and RCB must look in that direction too. There has been a dip in the number and quality of Karnataka players signed by the franchise, and the think-tank must sign some youngsters from the state to support homegrown talent. Apart from this, many Indian batsmen have done well in this year's domestic calendar so far and could shine if given the opportunity in the IPL.

Also see – Ranji points table

Therefore, for possible options to bolster the squad, we have considered the performance of players in the various tournaments in India and around the world, as well as how their skill-set would benefit RCB. With batting-friendly conditions at the Chinnaswamy stadium, accompanied by Virat Kohli's fiery style of captaincy, RCB can truly play fearless cricket if they make the right signings at the auction.

#5 Raymon Reifer

Raymon Reifer was extensively used as a death bowler for the Barbados Tridents in the 2019 CPL

A relatively unknown quantity, Raymon Reifer was an unsung hero in Barbados Tridents' title-winning run in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) this year. Reifer, a left-arm pacer, was instrumental in winning low-scoring matches for the Tridents with his wily bowling at the death. He may not be the fastest bowler, but he is accurate and has a bunch of variations which make him difficult to read. His skill-set was used very well by his skipper Jason Holder, as he ended up as the highest wicket-taking pacer in the CPL. He was the third-highest wicket-taker overall with 14 scalps in 11 games in a largely spin-dominated CPL.

Reifer is also a handy lower-order batter and could be used as a pinch-hitter when needed. He is also a big-match player, something RCB desperately needs, as he returned figures of 4-23 in the final of the 2019 CPL. His exploits on the flat, spin-friendly decks of the Carribean are more than proof of what he could do in the IPL.

Could Raymon Reifer replicate his form for the Tridents at the Chinnaswamy?

#4 Robin Uthappa

Uthappa was once a mainstay in the RCB batting line-up

Robin Uthappa is a name most cricket fans are familiar with. He's won multiple titles with Karnataka, clinched the IPL with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and won the 2007 T20 World Cup playing for India. He's even won the IPL Orange Cap in 2014. Over the past 12 seasons, he has amassed 4086 runs at a healthy strike rate of 131.84. In short, he's got tons of experience and pedigree.

But his recent form in the IPL and ouster from the Karnataka setup means that he enters the auction pool. The Royal Challengers must cash-in on this opportunity and buy Uthappa. He's a proven top-order batsman and could take the run-scoring burden off Virat and ABD's shoulders. He can keep wickets if needed as well. He could guide the youngsters in the side and could be an integral part of RCB's leadership group.

Moreover, he's a Karnataka and RCB veteran and is sure to be a fan-favourite. He has played numerous memorable innings at the Chinnaswamy and would benefit from the quicker wicket and shorter boundaries.

If RCB sign Uthappa, could they do another 'Chris Gayle' on KKR?

#3 Rohan Kadam

Rohan Kadam has been in sublime form in T20's this season

Another Karnataka batsman on the list, Rohan Kadam was the highest run-getter in last year's Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) tournament, scoring 536 runs at an average of 53.40, and has been in sublime form this time around too. These runs have all come at a healthy strike rate of 132.73. He has also scored big runs in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) and is a talent to watch out for.

He has also formed a formidable partnership with another RCB youngster in Devdutt Padikkal. The duo have complemented seniors in that Karnataka side like KL Rahul, Manish Pandey and Karun Nair, and have also rescued the team from difficult situations when needed. They could do the same with Virat and AB at RCB if backed by the management.

He is a calculative middle-order batsman, who times the ball very well. He can up the ante when needed and hit the big shots. Also, he has played the rescuing innings many a time, something the RCB think-tank must take note of. Therefore, Kadam could be a number 5 option for the RCB.

Could Rohan Kadam be the solution to RCB's muddle in the middle?

#2 Jhye Richardson

Jhye Richardson could be the X-factor for RCB this season

Jhye Richardson was a force to reckon with when they faced India at home and when on tour and should be a priority in RCB's bucket list. The Aussie speedster was listed as one of the exciting talents to watch out for before the World Cup earlier this year by the International Cricket Council (ICC) but was unfortunately sidelined with an injury. Since then, he has made a strong comeback for his domestic side, as well as Australia A, and is expected to make his way back into the senior side anytime soon.

He is young and quick, often clocking speeds over 140 km/hr. He hits the deck hard and has a knack for picking up wickets. He is a proven T20 bowler with his exploits for Australia, and RCB should keep a keen eye on him this time around. He is also an agile and safe fielder and can be effective with both the new ball and at the death.

Could Richardson and Navdeep Saini become a force to reckon with at the Chinnaswamy?

#1 Jason Holder

Jason Holder led Barbados Tridents to the CPL 2019 title

Jason Holder is one of the most improved players in recent times. He has grown leaps and bounds as a bowler and used his height very well to generate extra bounce and able to catch batsmen by surprise. This was seen in the 2019 World Cup, where the Windies pace attack was reminiscent of those from the '70s and '80s.

His big-hitting prowess and leadership abilities are also a huge asset to whichever team he plays for. He is one of the best pace-bowling all-rounders in the world and has single-handedly won matches for the Windies' with his batting. He has also matured as a leader and knows how to bring out the best from his players. Hence it is vital that RCB at least place a good bid for him. If the team management ever decides to look beyond Virat Kohli as captain, they will always have a CPL-winning skipper of international pedigree to lead the side.

If picked, Holder would play a key role of finisher, and a new ball bowler, and would be indispensable to this team. He is the type of all-rounder that this side genuinely seems to need, and his previous IPL stints with CSK, KKR and SRH wouldn't make him a newbie in this circuit.

Could Jason Holder solve RCB's woes with finishing off an innings?