The Indian Premier League (IPL) is not far from kick off. In addition to that, I also bring you a brief analysis of the Royal Challengers, Bengaluru (RCB). RCB, having Virat Kohli as their captain has not yet won a single season of the IPL. They always look a strong team on paper but things have not materialised for them on the playing field.
This year too, as in the previous years, the RCB team is a strong one. If anyone ventures to predict the winners of this year’s IPL trophy, RCB has to be on the top of their list. There is no doubt that Virat Kohli is an experienced captain both on the field and off it. He has recently been named as the top batsman by the ICC in all the three formats of the game. Moreover, he has been named the captain of both the ICC Test and ODI teams for 2018. One cannot have better qualifications than that.
AB De Villiers, one of the greatest South African cricketers, is also a member of the RCB team. He will play in the IPL although he has retired from all forms of international cricket. He has scored 3953 runs in the IPL thus far at an average of 39.53 in 144 innings. He has 186 sixes to his name and has scored a highest of 133 runs. He is a dangerous batsman and on a given day can change the complexion of the game in a couple of overs.
In the bowling department, the RCB has Yazuvendra Chahal in their armoury who is running rampant in Australia and New Zealand with the Indian side. Apart from that, they have Colin De Grandhomme and Tim Southee, both of New Zealand in their pace attack. Although Tim Southee’s record is not that impressive in the IPL so far, this year he seems to be in good form and we can expect a better performance from him. Umesh Yadav, the Indian paceman along with the Australian bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile will complete the pace attack for the RCB.
Umesh Yadav has performed well in the IPL taking 111 wickets in 108 matches and has four wickets for 24 runs as his best figures. Coulter-Nile has a good record in the IPL having capture 33 wickets in 25 innings and he has troubled the Indian batsmen on their recent tour of Australia. Moeen Ali of England is also a part of the RCB squad. He can play as an able all-rounder although he has played only a few matches in the IPL so far.
After going through some of the main actors in the RCB contingent I think that they have a very strong bowling attack. Their batting performance will rely more on Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers. As we know T20 cricket is a game dominated by the batsmen. If another couple of batsmen support these stalwarts there is no stopping Royal Challengers Bengaluru from winning the IPL trophy this year.