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Ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020), the spotlight has been firmly fixed on Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The Karnataka outfit is under more pressure than ever to finally deliver an IPL title to its loyal fans, with both time and patience fast running out.
Many RCB players have spoken about their plans for IPL 2020 - AB de Villiers called his net sessions a 'great challenge', Kohli claimed that he doesn't feel like he has been away from the game, and Umesh Yadav admitted that the team owes a title to the fans.
In this article, we carefully analyse the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of the RCB squad ahead of IPL 2020.
RCB in IPL 2020: Strengths
#1 RCB have a strong overseas core in the batting department
A strong batting line-up has been a hallmark of the RCB team over the years in the IPL, and although they have lost the likes of KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan, they still have a solid overseas core.
To support Virat Kohli, who is the leading run-scorer in the history of the IPL, RCB bought Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch, who is expected to open the batting. Finch is as destructive as anyone against the new ball, and could play a role similar to the one Chris Gayle played for the franchise.
AB de Villiers has been ever-present for RCB over the years, and his recent good form in the 3TC Solidarity Cup points to him defying age once again in IPL 2020. The former South African captain, along with England all-rounder Moeen Ali, make up a top order that has world-class overseas professionals with experience and leadership.
New singing Josh Philippe, who has turned heads with his performances in the Big Bash League, is another viable option on the bench.
#2 RCB have variety in their spin attack
Another factor that might turn out to be a telling one in the UAE, RCB have a versatile spin attack.
The franchise's leading wicket-taker Yuzvendra Chahal is an attacking option as always, and is perennially in the reckoning for the Purple Cap. To support him, RCB have Washington Sundar, who is accurate with his lines and lengths. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner is an excellent option in the powerplay, especially against the left-handers, and will perfectly complement the leggies of Chahal.
Moeen Ali is also a highly accurate bowler and has shown that he can extract ample turn on pitches that offer something. In addition to these three spinners, RCB can also call upon left-arm spinner Pawan Negi and new acquisition Adam Zampa.
The latter, in particular, has a potent googly that has deceived even Kohli on multiple occasions and given the success that wrist-spinners have enjoyed in the IPL, he could even partner Chahal.
RCB in IPL 2020: Weaknesses
#1 RCB's well-chronicled death bowling woes are set to continue
An issue that RCB just don't seem to address successfully in the auction is their death bowling. They attempted to shore up their fast bowling arsenal by buying Chris Morris and although he looks like a good option on paper, the numbers tell a different story.
Morris' economy rates in the past two IPL seasons have been 9.27 and 10.21 respectively, with a total of 16 wickets to show for. The South African hits the deck hard and has shown that he possesses a decent yorker, but he isn't consistent enough to assure RCB that they can depend on him at the death.
The issues that Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav have faced towards the ends of innings is known to all, and RCB's only hope at the death this season appears to be Navdeep Saini, who picked up 11 wickets last season at an economy rate of 8.27.
This is not to say that Umesh and Siraj cannot have improved, but they have been out of action for months on end and they've perhaps not had enough time to work on their variations. Only time will tell, but it does seem like RCB will struggle at the death once again.
#2 RCB don't have solid Indian batsmen in the middle order
Another problem that has plagued RCB is that they have been majorly top-heavy, and their IPL 2020 squad is no different. Following AB de Villiers - who is expected to bat at No. 4 - is Moeen Ali, after which there simply aren't tried-and-tested IPL batsmen.
Finch, De Villiers and Moeen have ensured that the batsmen who make up the rest of the middle order have to be Indian, and the best option at RCB's disposal is Gurkeerat Singh, who has played only 12 games in the past 4 IPL seasons. However, the Punjab batsman seems to be in good nick in training, and he along with Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube will have to step up.
Speaking of them......
#3 RCB don't have world-class all-rounders apart from Moeen Ali
No disrespect to Sundar and Dube, who are both young and extremely talented, but they aren't world-class yet.
The former made his India debut over three years ago, and has played 1 ODI and 23 T20Is, but has taken only 8 wickets and scored 66 runs for RCB over the past two seasons. Dube, on the other hand, 40 runs and zero wickets in 4 IPL games and has shown a certain one-dimensionality in both departments.
Chris Morris isn't a genuine all-rounder although he can contribute with the bat on his day, and Pawan Negi has scored 12 runs and taken 4 wickets over the past two IPL seasons.
Barring Moeen Ali, who is expected to play in the top order anyway, RCB don't have world-class all-rounders who lend balance to the lower middle order. This would not only hamper them on the field but it might also ensure that they never find the right team combination, which almost solely depends on all-rounders.
RCB in IPL 2020: Opportunities
#1 RCB's young stars have a chance to impress
One of the major positives that RCB have going into IPL 2020 is that their young stars can finally make a name for themselves.
Karnataka batsman Devdutt Padikkal has been spoke of highly by head coach Simon Katich, who stated that he has done everything possible to stake a claim for a spot in the RCB playing XI. Washington Sundar could excel with the ball in hand on the friendly UAE pitches, while even Shivam Dube and Mohammed Siraj are in their mid-20's and still have a lot of cricket left in them.
Young wicket-keeper Josh Philippe has been spoken of highly by his RCB teammate Aaron Finch and Rajasthan Royals captain Steve Smith, and should he be given chances, he could catapult himself into a legitimate star.
#2 RCB's Indian stars are all in search of regular spots in the national team
Apart from Kohli, every Indian star in RCB's lineup will be looking at IPL 2020 as an opportunity to earn themselves a regular spot in the national team.
Parthiv Patel could capitalise on the confusion surrounding the wicket-keeper's role in all three formats for India, while even Yuzvendra Chahal is yearning his first Test cap for the country.
The likes of Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini have been on the fringes of the white-ball sides but haven't become fixtures in the playing XI, and Mohammed Siraj has also fallen off the radar after making his debut.
Padikkal will be looking to make a quick jump from domestic cricket to the international stage, and Gurkeerat, who has been capped by India, will want to show the selectors that he has something left to offer.
RCB's Indian stars have ample motivation for IPL 2020, and will be keen on grabbing their opportunities with open arms.
RCB in IPL 2020: Threats
#1 RCB's new signings either have poor IPL records or are entirely untested at the IPL level
Although the signings of Aaron Finch, Chris Morris and Dale Steyn look like solid decisions, all three have poor recent IPL records.
As mentioned earlier, Morris has been expensive and hasn't picked up enough wickets to justify the amount of runs he has conceded. The Proteas pacer hasn't offered much with the bat as well.
It wouldn't be an overstatement to claim that Finch has been at a new franchise every IPL season, and his last spell at the Kings XI Punjab was nothing short of a disaster. In the 2018 IPL, the Kangaroos skipper managed only 134 runs in 10 games, and in the year before that, he averaged less than 25.
Steyn is a shadow of the express pacer he was once was, and has played only 9 games across his last 3 IPL seasons - 7 wickets at an economy rate of over 8.5 in all 3.
The other new signings - Shahbaz Ahmad, Pavan Deshpande, Josh Philippe and Isuru Udana - are entirely untested at the IPL level.
However, while the stats don't make for good reading, all of these players are certainly match-winners.
#2 RCB are at the risk of crossing the point of no return
This might seem like a generic statement, but it is important to realise just how much of a toll RCB's failures in the IPL might have taken on them. The team members head into each IPL with high expectations and hopes, but have failed miserably.
For example, if the first few games don't go in RCB's favour, they might find it very difficult to motivate themselves to bring themselves back from the brink. We have seen how the pain of the 2015 World Cup semi-final defeat all but ended AB de Villiers' international career, despite South Africa staring at the next edition of the tournament in the near distance.
A similar pattern might make an appearance at RCB. Virat Kohli has been under immense criticism, and his captaincy will have to be at its best in IPL 2020. Speaking of Virat Kohli's leadership......
#3 Virat Kohli's chopping and changing can single-handedly ruin RCB's IPL 2020
As mentioned earlier, RCB's team composition, especially with regards to the lower middle order, is far from certain. And if recent patterns are anything to go by, Virat Kohli will ring in a number of changes in an attempt to find the ideal combination, at the expense of a consistent run of games for the players who he initially backs.
This is a major threat that hovers over RCB's IPL 2020 campaign, and the Indian captain will need to firmly stand behind his players, even if they go through a rough patch in the beginning owing to lack of match practice and fitness.
Also Read: IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Chennai Super Kings
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