IPL 2020: Royal Challengers Bangalore strongest possible lineup

It was a hectic day as the IPL Auctions 2020 commenced in Kolkata yesterday. Royal Challengers Bangalore who has been one of the perennial underachievers of the tournament will be seeking redemption next season. They have some new faces in their squad who will look to lend stability and balance to the squad. RCB already has some exceptional talents in their ranks but gelling together as a unit has been their main issue.

Having released several players from their squad, RCB invested small amounts in a couple of uncapped players. They also managed to bag the services of Chris Morris and Aaron Finch who might be great additions for them going forward.

Royal Challengers Bangalore full squad

Batsmen- Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Parthiv Patel (wk), Aaron Finch, Joshua Philippe (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed (wk), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Pavan Deshpande

All-rounders- Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Isuru Udana

Spinners- Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi

Fast Bowlers- Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Kane Richardson, Dale Steyn

Now with the auctions done and dusted let us have a look at the best possible playing XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Openers

Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch

He was bound to fetch a good amount in the auction and it went as per plan. It was the Royal Challengers Bangalore who bagged him for Rs 4.4 crores. He is an explosive top-order batsman and has been at the helm of the Australian limited-overs team for quite a while now.

Hence he knows a thing or two about captaincy. Finch could end for the worries for RCB at the opening slot. In the past, skipper Virat Kohli has also moved up the order to open the innings. However, with Finch around, he could be handling the opening duties along with Parthiv Patel.

Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel

The southpaw has been an integral part of the RCB unit but hasn’t come to the limelight often. He has remained in the shadows of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers during his stint for RCB but has gone about his job in an unfazed manner. He hasn’t received enough plaudits for his contribution to the RCB team. Even last year, Parthiv looked in good touch all through the course of the tournament.

He hasn’t been in the best of touches in the recent past but he will fit in this team perfectly. Parthiv is a safe wicket-keeper behind the stumps and inflicted a match-winning run out against Chennai Super Kings last season. The left-hander is a good striker of the ball and could turn out to be the unsung hero for RCB yet again.

Middle Order

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli

This man doesn’t need an introduction. The greatest modern-day batsman without an iota of doubt, Virat Kohli will definitely look to turn his fortunes as a skipper for Royal Challengers. Despite already becoming the most successful Indian Test captain, Kohli has been highly disappointing as the skipper of RCB. He is a modern great and makes batting looks ridiculously easy.

Kohli had a relatively poor season with the bat last time around. However, given the stature of this player, we can expect something special this season. The Indian skipper broke all the records in 2016 when he aggregated 973 runs at a staggering average of 81. He also became the first batsman to smash 4 centuries in a single season.

In the last two years, Kohli has gone from strength to strength. He has been found wanting when it comes to team selection and with some new names this year, Kohli will be hoping for a turn of fortunes.

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers

Mr 360 has been an indispensable unit of the RCB batting line-up for a long time now. He is definitely another modern legend of the game who doesn’t need an introduction. Having retired from international cricket early last year, De Villiers has been plying his trade in T20 tournaments all across the globe. He can turn the match on its head and RCB will hope for something special from this man next season.

He looked in sublime touch during the recently concluded Mzansi Super League and will look to carry on his form next season in the IPL. De Villiers had a good time with the bat in IPL last season amassing 442 runs in 13 matches. Despite his impressive showing, RCB failed to go through to the last 4. Come next season, De Villiers will look to make a match-winning impact for RCB and help them bag their maiden IPL title.

Gurkeerat Singh

Gurkeerat Singh Mann

With the squad RCB has put together for the next season, Gurkeerat Singh might become a vital option in the middle order. He is an experienced campaigner despite not playing too many IPL matches in the last few seasons. Gurkeerat Singh has represented Kings XI Punjab in the past and played for RCB in the last season. He played just 3 matches last season. After the departure of Mandeep Singh, Gurkeerat might get a few more matches in RCB colours.

The 29-year-old is a sensational fielder as well and is still fondly remembered for his famous flying catch of Ross Taylor at square leg during the 2013 IPL. He also bagged the catch of the tournament for his exceptional effort. Gurkeerat might fit in the team perfectly given the fact that he can anchor the innings if RCB loses some wickets at the top.

All-Rounders

Shivam Dube

Shivam Dube. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

He has already made a name for himself in India colours after impressing during the T20I series against West Indies. He made a vital contribution during the T20I decider against Bangladesh with the ball and then impressed with the bat during the 2nd T20I against West Indies. Sent in at No 3 ahead of Virat Kohli, Dube smashed 4 sixes and 3 fours during his knock of 54 of 30 deliveries. He plundered the Windies attack with disdain and looked familiar with the conditions.

Dube has been backed by Kohli and it shouldn’t be any different for RCB next season. He is a valuable player and can also chip with some crucial overs in the middle and the death. While Dube is definitely not a premier bowler, he can do the job for his captain.

Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar. (Image Courtesy: BCCI)

The area where Sundar needs to improve drastically is his fielding. He was pretty poor in the field during the T20I series against West Indies dropping some sitters. Sundar can start with the new ball and his off-breaks in the powerplays are pretty useful for any team. He doesn’t spin the ball much but does his job in an unfazed manner.

He has the ability to control the game with his line to line bowling. To add to the repertoire, Sundar has also shown that he can be devastating with the bat as well. The left-hander can smack the ball a long way and can be a good hitting option for RCB in the lower middle-order along with Dube and Chris Morris.

Chris Morris

Chris Morris.

Morris is a multi-dimensional player who might just solve the problem for RCB at the pace department. He is a good new-ball bowler and can also check the flow of runs in the death overs. Coming late in the batting order, Morris can play the big shots quite consistently and might bat at a higher position in crunch situations.

The South African had a good time with the ball last season with the Delhi Capitals bagging 13 wickets in 9 matches. However, his economy rate was at the higher side which he will look to rectify this year. He had a pretty indifferent season with the bat last season but overall he has a good record in this format. Morris might turn out to be a game-changer for RCB.

Bowlers

Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn

If fit Steyn can turn on the gas for the Royal Challengers Bangalore just like he did last season. He played just two matches but was at his searing best in one of the matches against Chennai Super Kings. There is certainly no doubt about the fact that he is the twilight of his career but even now Steyn can send shivers down the spine of the opposition batters.

Injury has been a concern with Steyn in the last few years. He should look to maintain himself ahead of the tournament next year and make himself available for the majority of the tournament. Steyn was bought back by RCB at Rs 2 crores and should make the playing XI if available. Kane Richardson fetched a higher amount than Steyn but given the latter’s experience, he will mostly be part of the playing XI.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav.

He has been a part of the formidable Indian bowling line-up in the Test format. However, with the white ball, Umesh Yadav has received some stick in the past. Owing to impressive performances with the ball in 2018, he earned a recall to the Indian T20I team. However, he had an indifferent season with the ball last year and got a hiding more often than not.

Umesh has looked in good form in red-ball cricket and he should now look to translate it to the white ball format. He had a great season with the ball in 2018 when he bagged 20 wickets in 13 matches at an exceptional average of 20. The Indian pacer bowled with hostility in the powerplay overs but was found wanting in the death overs. This is an area which he needs to improve on.

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal

None of the RCB bowlers managed to leave up to their reputations last year but Chahal got his act together and bagged 18 wickets in 14 matches. He wasn’t at his best under any stress of imagination but got wickets at crucial junctures of the game. Chahal has been a pivotal member for RCB and will lead the spin attack next season.

The leggie has been a crucial bowler for India in the white-ball format and has the ability to control the game with his intelligent bowling. In the T20I format, leg spinners have been a revelation and Chahal will look to keep up his good work.