With a lot expected to take place in the Indian Premier League 2018 (IPL), we have the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who has to take care of their loyal fan base. RCB do witness the jam-packed stadium back home as Christopher Henry Gayle was a major fascination and the crowd-favourite, but he is likely to be released next season.
What RCB’s ten-season history suggest to us?
The Men in the Red outfit has had built a solid squad over the years but unfortunately failed to encash the opportunity year after another.
So much so, the quality players struggled to capitalize on what the professionals could have had contributed in the shortest version of the game owing to the strength and star-studded line-up particularly in the batting department.
Interestingly, the IPL franchise is yet to lift the coveted domestic trophy after being runners-up in three editions.
Moreover, in 2011, Bangalore was the runners-up in 2011 in the now-defunct Champions League Twenty20 competition.
Royal Challengers Bangalore:
The next edition will take place with several changes of the cricketing carnival; the Bangalore-based outfit needs a major overhaul of the team which crept under pressure in the tenth edition of the IPL.
Following the disastrous season in 2017, while laying hands on the wooden spoon, Bangalore finished on the eighth spot with just three wins in 14 matches under the leadership of Virat Kohli.
Bangalore further managed to collect seven points after losing 10 fixtures as one fixture was washed out in Bangalore against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
In 2017 edition, Bangalore was heavily relying on their prominent faces which included swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle, flamboyant AB de Villiers all-rounder Shane Watson, Samuel Badree and KL Rahul apart from Virat Kohli after losing out speedster Mitchell Starc, who pulled out of the tournament due to the rehabilitation programme.
(Read Also: IPL 2018: Three Players Chennai Super Kings Should Retain Ahead of IPL 11 Players’ Auction)
What would RCB be looking for?
With the team in dire need of consistency from players to contribute both with the bat and a ball, Bangalore would require at least three players to retain to swing fortunes in this favour.
The RCB management would be aiming to invest in youngsters alongside the senior campaigners which is highly-likely going to pay rich dividends as they would have had observed the loopholes.
With RCB all set to focus on the upcoming edition, the players are supposed to give their best after failing to rise to the occasion in the previously held edition.
Of Choices and Chances for RCB:
Amid all the assumption, Bangalore would further maintain the core side, in order to pick quality bowlers this time around owing to the auction.
Moreover, it would be an interesting phase to see the opening batsman Chris Gayle’s fate decided by the Challengers management, but the edition is expected to draw the record crowds in India.
The balanced squad would play an imperative role for the Karnataka-based outfit which has been struggling of late.
Here’s the list of players who would be retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore: