Royal Challengers Bangalore predicted XI for IPL 2021

Middle Order: Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby

Will the Big Show show up in IPL 2021?

RCB captain Virat Kohli will stroll in at the fall of the first wicket. Kohli didn't have a great season last year by his standards, although he had patches of the form he showed back in 2016. He will look to get back among the runs (and centuries) in IPL 2021 and extend his lead at the top of the list of all-time league run-getters.

AB de Villiers will, of course, be the man to bat at No. 4 for RCB in IPL 2021, provided the team decides to put all experiments involving Washington Sundar aside. The South African has showed no signs of rust despite having retired from international cricket, and it's certain that he'll win at least a couple of games single-handedly for the side.

RCB's newest splurge in the auction involved signing Glenn Maxwell for INR 14.25 crores - 4 crores more than his price last year. The team has taken a massive gamble on Maxwell, and you get the feeling that this move could either go astoundingly well or nightmarishly poorly.

The Aussie all-rounder didn't hit a single six in IPL 2020 and his strike rate barely touched three figures, but he has been in good form for his country in white-ball cricket. Maxwell also had an above-average individual season for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash this year. RCB will hope that he comes to the party in IPL 2021.

The No. 6 spot is a bit of a problem for RCB after releasing Gurkeerat Mann and Shivam Dube. An uncapped batsman has to take the spot, and the options available are Pavan Deshpande, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar and Sachin Baby.

Baby seems to be the best possible choice. He is more suited to a middle-order role than the rest, and having played in the IPL previously, has the experience needed to navigate the fag end of the innings.

If RCB want to boost their bowling department, they could even opt to play Harshal Patel, who is more than capable of wielding the willow.