Winning is a good habit, but it is not one typically associates with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). However, the Virat Kohli-led unit started on a good note in IPL 2021, and are currently placed at the third spot with five wins and two defeats.
As the tournament resumes after four and a half months, the question remains: can RCB regain the same steam?
Finn Allen, Scott Kuggeleijn, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams and Adam Zampa have withdrawn, whereas Washington Sundar has been ruled out due to an injury.
The new recruits will alter the balance, as the team’s core remains the same. Cashing on the meteoritic rise of Tim David, RCB have recruited the big-hitter. David becomes the first cricketer from Singapore to be a part of the IPL. Other major signing includes Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga, the man responsible for India’s woes in their recent tour of Sri Lanka.
RCB Squad: Virat Kohli (c), A.B. de Villiers (wk), S. Bharat (wk), Mohammed Azharuddeen (wk), Akash Deep, Yuzvendra Chahal, Dushmantha Chameera, Dan Christian, Tim David, Wanindu Hasaranga, Pavan Deshpande, George Garton, Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Siraj, Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Sachin Baby, Navdeep Saini, Shahbaz Ahmed
SWOT analysis of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2021
Strengths
RCB’s perennial strength is their batting, with A.B. de Villiers their spine. In the current season, he averages 51.75, striking at over 164. The batting has experience and firepower. The usual suspects – Glenn Maxwell, de Villiers, Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal – are their highest run-getters this season in that order. While Kohli will continue to play anchor, the others will bat around him with more freedom.
Maxwell’s arrival has given Kohli and de Villiers more cushion. David's presence further strengthens the middle-order. Alongside de Villiers, the task of finishing innings rests upon him.
Dan Christian’s experience will make him a handy player in these conditions. Not to forget, there are other power-hitters in Indian players like Mohammed Azharuddeen, Shahbaz Ahmed and Rajat Patidar.
Another big boost is the signing of Hasaranga. As a leg-spinner, he bowls at a different pace than Yuzvendra Chahal. On slow turners, the leg-spinning duo alongside Shahbaz may go on to prove critical to RCB’s success.
Trading in Harshal Patel from Delhi to helm the death overs proved to be a masterstroke for RCB. That encounter with Ravindra Jadeja apart, Harshal has been fantastic this season with 17 wickets from seven games, donning the Purple Cap.
With Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini in the squad, what helps the pace bowling department is the lack of reliance on overseas players.
Among the foreign pacers, Kyle Jamieson, Chameera and Sussex left-armer George Garton provide versatility in the department.
The abundance of options is a strength that RCB would like to use this season, especially the fact that they have more than six bowling options.
Weakness:
In order to stack the batting line-up with power-hitting overseas recruits, RCB will have to rely on their Indian pacers. Saini has not inspired enough confidence in recent times. He returned wicketless from Sri Lanka, and has not picked a single wicket in white-ball cricket this year. Also, fitness has been an issue with him.
The conditions in the UAE require a lot of adapting, especially for the non-subcontinent players. David, Jamieson and Garton have little experience in such conditions.
Maxwell had a torrid time adjusting to the slow tracks in the UAE last season. RCB will hope the Australian reinvents his imperious 2014 version from UAE.
There are not enough backup spinners. Without Sundar, their reliance on off-spin is with the part-timers, Maxwell and David. Considering the fact most teams have explosive left-handers in their batting order, RCB may struggle in this department.
Opportunities
RCB have had a good start to their campaign. With a strong batting and a balanced side, here is their opportunity to finally lay their hands on the IPL trophy.
Other than Padikkal, the other young Indian batters in the RCB contingent are not big names. A good show can change things for them in the mega auction next year. The next two years are busy white-ball seasons for the national team as well.
A recent disappointing run has cost Chahal a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Given that the tournament will be played in the UAE after the IPL, this is his chance to stake a claim for the leg-spinner’s role, as teams can still name replacements till October 10. Last year, in the UAE, Chahal was the most impressive spinner, with 21 wickets in the season at 19.28 and going at seven an over.
Threats
The belief is A.B. is superhuman. What if the prefix ‘super’ fades? Season after season, there has been an overreliance on him. Unlike Mumbai Indians or Delhi Capitals, RCB's firepower is over-reliant on their foreign recruits.
Virat Kohli’s strike rate is another concern. Since IPL 2020, he has averaged 39 at a strike rate of 121. The sport has evolved, as has the role of an anchor. A batter consuming five and a half overs and scoring 39 on average may go on to hurt a team more often than not.
Sundar’s absence will be a blow. An Indian spinner who can bowl inside the Powerplay would have been extremely handy. Hasaranga’s fitting into that role will be critical for RCB’s success this season. However, his unavailability in the later stages will go on to hamper the balance.
RCB’s likely starting XI: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (c), Glenn Maxwell, A.B. de Villiers (wk), Mohammed Azharuddeen, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj
RCB's remaining fixtures
- Monday, 20 September: RCB vs KKR (Abu Dhabi)
- Friday, 24 September: RCB vs CSK (Sharjah)
- Sunday, 26 September: RCB vs MI (Dubai)
- Wednesday, 29 September: RCB vs RR (Dubai)
- Sunday, 3 October: RCB vs PBKS (Sharjah)
- Wednesday, 6 October: RCB vs SRH (Abu Dhabi)
- Friday, 8 October: RCB vs DC (Dubai)