IPL 2019: How far can Royal Challengers Bangalore go this year?

Known as the most entertaining team in the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore finished a disappointing 6th in the points table of IPL 2018.

Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli last year, Royal Challengers Bangalore won two matches each against against Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Capitals. They won one match against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, and they lost both their matches against each of Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders.

In IPL 2018, Kohli finished as the 7th leading run getter with 530 runs from 14 matches (14 innings) with 4 half centuries to his name, and a best score of 92*. The other notable RCB batsman to score big runs was AB de Villiers with 480 runs from 12 matches (11 innings) with an amazing strike of 174.54. He scored 6 half centuries in 2018 IPL.

Despite these two efforts, the Royal Challengers could not qualify for the playoff stages.

Moeen Ali got to play in 5 matches with 77 runs and a best score of 65. With the ball, he took 3 wickets. Colin de Grandhomme scored 131 runs from 9 matches with a strike rate of 155.95. He can be a dangerous batsman lower down the order, taking the game away from the opposition, but he didn't do that consistently enough in 2018.

RCB's highest team total was against CSK, when they racked up 205 for 8 in 50 overs but still lost the match in a high scoring thriller.

In the bowling department, Umesh Yadav was the pick of bowlers for RCB as he finished 4th in the leading wicket takers' list with 20 wickets from 14 matches (14 innings) at an economy of 7.86 runs per. Apart from Yadav, only Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Siraj took a substantial amount of wickets for RCB.

Chahal finished with 12 wickets from 14 matches (14 innings) at an economy of 7.26 runs per over. Siraj also impressed with 11 wickets from 11 matches (11 innings).

What to expect from RCB in IPL 2019

RCB will begin the IPL 2019 edition with a blockbuster encounter against CSK on 23rd March 2019 to be played at M Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Before the auction, RCB decided to retain their core players which included Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme, Parthiv Patel, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kulwant Khejroliya, Tim Southee, Navdeep Saini, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mohammed Siraj.

The franchise decided to release four players namely Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, Corey Anderson and Sarfaraz Khan.

At the 2019 auction, RCB purchased the explosive young West Indies sensation Shimron Hetymer for Rs. 4.20 crore.

Hetymer scored 440 runs from 12 matches (12 innings) at a strike rate of 148.14 in CPL 2018 for Guyana Amazon Warriors. His inclusion in the RCB squad will strengthen the batting as he has the ability to change the course of game with his power hitting.

The Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been traded from Kings XI Punjab to Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The hard-hitting uncapped all-rounder Shivam Dube was bought by the franchise for a whopping Rs. 5 crore. Dube performed brilliantly in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy for Mumbai, scoring 632 runs from 8 matches (14 innings) with 2 centuries and 3 half-centuries. He was decent with the ball too.

Akshdeep Nath had an outstanding 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season for Uttar Pradesh, slamming 727 runs from 10 matches (13 innings) with 3 centuries and 2 half centuries with a best score of 194.

RCB have also bought Heinrich Klaasen for Rs. 50 lakh. Klaasen played for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2018.

The top run getter of Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Milind Kumar, was bought by RCB for Rs. 20 lakh. He could solve the problem of opening the batting as Brendon McCullum has been released.

They have also bought young talents Prayas Ray Barman and Devdutt Padikkal, who can create an impact if given a chance in the playing XI.

RCB have never won an IPL title, finishing runners-up in the 2009 and 2016 editions. Kohli and Co. will be looking to win their maiden IPL title this year with such a strong batting lineup.

That said, the bowling needs to improve a lot if they are to win the title in 2019. Yadav, Southee and Chahal are some of experienced bowlers they will depend on, while the all-rounders would also need to contribute with both bat and ball.