5 players who were at their peak while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL

3. Samuel Badree is the only overseas bowler to take a hat-trick for the Royal Challengers Bangalore

#OnThisDay in 2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣7️⃣, Samuel Badree became the 2nd RCB bowler to take a hat-trick in the IPL! 👏👏Can you name the 3️⃣ batsmen he dismissed?#PlayBold pic.twitter.com/bxBdwFMa8T

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 14, 2020

Samuel Badree was the number one leg-spinner in T20I cricket during his prime. However, he never made it big in the IPL. The Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings opted for his services, but Badree could only take two wickets in his first five IPL appearances.

Later, the Caribbean spinner joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He had his career's best IPL season with RCB. Badree played seven games, scalping nine wickets in 25 overs, which also included a hat-trick against the Mumbai Indians. His best figures were 4/9.

Badree's economy rate for RR was 8.50. and the same came down to 7.52 when playing for RCB. Unfortunately, the Royal Challengers Bangalore let him go before the mega auction in 2018.

---

2. Balachandra Akhil

Most runs while facing just 7 balls in #IPL28 - Albie Morkel for CSK v RCB in 201227*- B Akhil for RCB v Dch in 200825 - Virat Kohli for #RCBvRR in #IPL2019

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 1, 2019

Uncapped Indian all-rounder Balachandra Akhil made his IPL debut for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural season. Akhil batted right-handed and bowled medium-pace.

His all-round brilliance helped the Royal Challengers during the initial seasons. He played ten innings for the team, scoring 63 runs at a strike rate of 136.96. Akhil's best knock came against the Deccan Chargers, where he hit an unbeaten 7-ball 27* to guide RCB to a 5-wicket win.

In addition to his batting heroics, Akhil also picked up six wickets for the team at an economy rate of 7.50. When he switched to the Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011, he received only one opportunity to play where he could not replicate his past performances. Unfortunately, he never returned to the IPL after that season.

IPL is set to begin from April 9th. Get the completed IPL 2021 schedule here.

---

1. R Vinay Kumar

Vinay Kumar and Virat Kohli played together for the Royal Challengers Bangalore

R Vinay Kumar was a match-winner for the Royal Challengers Bangalore during his prime. Kumar had two stints with the Royal Challengers. The first lasted from 2008 to 2010, while the right-arm fast bowler returned to his home franchise in 2012 and played two seasons for them.

Vinay Kumar represented RCB 64 times across the five seasons, picking up 72 wickets at a strike rate of 18.13. When he played for the Kolkata Knight Riders, Vinay could scalp only nine wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 9.66.

Meanwhile, when Kumar donned the Mumbai Indians jersey, his bowling average was 38.58 in 17 matches. He did not have a memorable season with the Kochi Tuskers Kerala as well. Hence, one can say Vinay was at his peak when he donned the RCB jersey in the IPL.