IPL 2018: Performance Analysis of teams unable to make the playoffs

#2 Royal Challengers Bangalore (12 points, 6th place)

Another promising year, but the same old result

The good

Partnerships between two of the greatest limited-overs batsmen: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Unsurprisingly, there was a direct correlation between their performances and RCB's victories.

The bowling attack, led by Umesh Yadav, fired in unity a lot more consistently than it has for RCB in the recent past. Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj and Tim Southee all had their moments in a decent season bowling-wise.

The bad

Lack of support for Kohli and de Villiers. Almost all the openers - Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, Manan Vohra and Parthiv Patel- dealt in cameos while Mandeep Singh was too inconsistent in his finishing role.

The Sarfaraz Khan gamble did not pay off while Colin de Grandhomme and Moeen Ali were given delayed opportunities due to an out-of-form Corey Anderson preferred over them.

The death bowling cost RCB severely in the first half of the tournament, as Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes failed to deliver under pressure.

Washington Sundar was expected to play a key role with the ball but he leaked runs too, leaving Kohli with limited options in the middle overs as well.

In the second half, Yadav was aptly used as a powerplay wicket-taker while Southee and Siraj impressed at the death, but the lack of depth in their batting continued to haunt the team despite improved bowling performances.

Star performers

Umesh Yadav picked p 20 wickets in the IPL this season

Umesh Yadav bowled with pace, aggression and intensity to emerge as a strike bowler in the powerplay for RCB, ending the tournament with 20 wickets.

He picked wickets off consecutive deliveries on five separate occasions- a jaw-dropping feat, and his performance also earned him a place in India's T20 squad for the tour to England.

Kohli (530 runs) and De Villiers (480 runs) scored the bulk of RCB's runs in what was otherwise a disappointing season for their batsmen.

The duo's class is unparalleled, but RCB's repeated inability to progress in the tournament proves the fact that cricket is a team sport.

The failing stars

Sundar came into the IPL on the back of a man-of-the-series performance in India's triumphant Nidahas Trophy campaign.

However, he failed to live up to expectations and a dependable bowling option became a liability for RCB.

The surprise retention of Sarfaraz didn't reap rewards as he managed a mere 51 runs in six innings and was dropped midway through the season.

Woakes leaked runs at above 10 RPO in the five matches he played, but considering he was RCB's most expensive auction purchase, he deserved more chances.

What they missed

Coulter-Nile could have given the RCB bowling a distinctive edge

The impact of Nathan Coulter-Nile being ruled out of the season was neutralised to a certain extent with Yadav taking over the mantle of picking up wickets in the powerplay.

However, Coulter-Nile's control as a death bowler was missed in the death overs till RCB turned to Tim Southee later in the tournament.

The biggest blunder RCB made was replacing the Australian fast bowler with Anderson- a batting all-rounder without sufficient match practice- despite the presence of Ali and De Grandhomme already in the squad.

A like-for-like replacement would have strengthened their pace attack as Southee was unavailable for the first few weeks due to illness.

RCB conceded 200+ totals twice in this period, and who knows, an international seamer could have made a difference in these matches.

The future

As Kohli admitted after RCB's last game, they need to look at the composition of their middle order to release some pressure off de Villiers and himself.

De Grandhomme has probably done enough to earn himself a first-XI spot for next year. One can expect Sarfaraz to be released and a call on Mandeep will depend on his performance in the domestic season. The international form of De Kock and Woakes will determine their future.

The Indian bowlers they ended the season with haven't done much wrong, but RCB will definitely look for a marquee overseas fast bowler to complement Southee if Coulter-Nile isn't available again.