Summary
Arguably the biggest IPL team not to have won the tournament in its eight year existence, the Royal Challengers have always played host to the biggest of players over the seasons. The sheer quality of the players they have had on their nine rosters could make for two good quality teams - and the rest. In fact, below is a look at what those teams could look like, with a few further options. Those players include:
- Kallis, Pietersen, Watson, Uthappa, Gayle, Kohli, de Villiers, Yuvraj, Dravid, Dilshan
- Steyn, Zaheer, Vettori, Starc, Vinay Kumar, Kumble, Muralitharan
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| Despite the big names they've had on their roster, such as Cameron White, Anil Kumble and Vinay Kumar, Bangalore have never won an IPL (PHOTO: Gianluigi Guercia) |
Bangalore narrowly lost the second IPL Final, held in South Africa, to the Deccan Chargers before finishing third after beating the same opponents in a play off. It was another runners-up finish in 2011, as RCB were hammered by Chennai Super Kings in a 58 run defeat. Bangalore reached the second qualifier after comfortably seeing off Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, before Chennai overcame them once more.
The introduction in the last few years of Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers to go with captain Virat Kohli has seen a new level of danger and productivity at the top of the order, although it has still not been enough for a title. Their bowling depth, or lack of it, has been a problem in recent years, with an over-reliance on the top order proving to be their undoing on occasion.
Key players
Chris Gayle
Gayle is one of the biggest names in world cricket and has certainly lived up to that expectation in the IPL. The West Indian opener has an unbelievable IPL record, holding records left, right and centre. He has the highest IPL (and overall t20) score of 175* and the most sixes - 230.
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| Chris Gayle is one of the certified kings of the IPL (PHOTO: Pal Pillai-IDI) |
His average and strike rate just go further to confirm his reputation in the tournament, averaging 45.71 and striking at 153.18. He also boasts the highest average for those batsmen with over 1000 runs and is only second to Virender Sehwag (155.44) in terms of strike rate for those with over 1000 runs.
Virat Kohli
Again, not a whole lot needs to be said here. The captain of the Royal Challengers, Kohli has a winning mentality that has yet to deliver an IPL title to his side.
He is currently in imperious form, starring for India in the World t20 just gone. He is part of a dangerous top order and will be looking to add his own form and considerable power of Gayle, de Villiers and Shane Watson.
He is currently in imperious form, starring for India in the World t20 just gone. He is part of a dangerous top order and will be looking to add his own form and considerable power of Gayle, de Villiers and Shane Watson.
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| Virat Kohli is the inspirational figure looking to guide his side to a maiden title (PHOTO: Manjunath Kiran) |
Kohli's World t20 showed what kind of form he is in and the huge amount of quality he possesses. Had India progressed to the Final, Kohli may well have come out on top in terms of runs scored.
Having played a game less, he was 22 behind Tamim Iqbal - the Bangladesh opener whose 295 runs included 233 coming in three innings against Oman, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Other than that, it was only Joe Root who came close, with the England number three 24 runs off having played an innings extra. To make his stunning tournament numbers stand out even more, he was the only Indian batsman to pass 100 for the tournament, with MS Dhoni's 89 the closest challenger to Kohli's majestic 273.
Having played a game less, he was 22 behind Tamim Iqbal - the Bangladesh opener whose 295 runs included 233 coming in three innings against Oman, Ireland and the Netherlands.
Other than that, it was only Joe Root who came close, with the England number three 24 runs off having played an innings extra. To make his stunning tournament numbers stand out even more, he was the only Indian batsman to pass 100 for the tournament, with MS Dhoni's 89 the closest challenger to Kohli's majestic 273.
AB de Villiers
The third and final piece of the destructive RCB top three jigsaw, de Villiers is yet another player, along with Gayle and Kohli, who you would love to have in your t20 side. Bangalore have all three and such a variety of styles to go with them.
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| de Villiers is another high profile name in the RCB lineup (PHOTO: Gareth Copley) |
That means RCB have three of the top nine runscorers in the IPL, along with Gayle and Kohli - along with Watson, who is 13th.
The 32-year-old enjoyed a mixed return in the World t20, scoring 110 runs in four innings. He passed fifty just once, when he scored 64 against Afghanistan.
Other than that, despite striking at a huge 180.32 overall, he scored just 16 and 10 against England and West Indies respectively as the Proteas crashed out in the Super 10 stage.
Key auction buys
Shane Watson
Watson comes into the Bangalore setup to add to the significant firepower at the top of the order. He will provide the RCB side with a powerful and consistent option in the top order and a smart, useful bowling option. That is not to mention his vast experience, particularly in the t20 format and IPL.
The 34-year-old has a tournament record to rival any other, averaging just over 35 and striking at just over 140 - records similar to Suresh Raina and David Warner.
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| Watson played his last international game against India in the World t20 (PHOTO: Ryan Pierse) |
The all-rounder showed his versatility in the batting order in Australia's World t20 campaign, going from opening the batting to number six. He topped his country's batting averages with 48 as he struck 96 runs in his four innings, with a best of 44*.
He was also effective in the bowling department as he took five wickets at an average of 20.6. His economy was also impressive and indeed only Adam Zampa had a better rate, with Watson going at 7.35 runs an over.
Stuart Binny
Binny rose to IPL prominence in 2013, having played in three previous tournaments without similar success. The all-rounder enjoyed a fruitful campaign, scoring 293 runs in 17 games along with some impressive numbers. He averaged 32.55 and had a strike rate of 147.23 as well as clearing the ropes on 12 occasions He was effective when he was given the chance with the ball, also, taking six wickets at 27. His economy was another plus as he went at a miserly 6.75.
His subsequent tournaments did not prove to be as successful, with the 27-year-old struggling to make an impact with the bat, failing to reach 200 runs over the course of the 2014 and 2015 seasons combined. It is no doubt that Binny is certainly a more than useful cricketer and his all-round ability will only go and strengthen RCB further.
Samuel Badree
Badree has the most incredible t20 record and it is somewhat of a surprise that he has only played five IPL games in his career. The 35-year-old has played 135 t20 games and yet his economy rate remains below a run a ball at 5.41 per over.
Indeed, his economy rate is even better at international level as well as his average - 5.39 and 14.7 respectively. Another incredible fact about Badree is the sheer lack of cricket he has played at the age of 35. He has played just 12 First Class games and 33 List A games - his last games in those formats were in 2009 and 2013 respectively.
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| Badree enjoyed a brilliant World t20 (PHOTO: Ryan Pierse) |
Those stats show how much of a t20 specialist the Trinidadian is and his skills were on full show as he helped West Indies to a second World t20 title. The leg spinner had a brilliant tournament, taking nine wickets at just 13.77.
His economy rate was yet again impeccable as he went at just 5.39. Another factor to add into Badree's unbelievable record is that he typically operates within the powerplay overs at the start of an innings - a period notoriously difficult to keep the brakes on the batting side.
His economy rate was yet again impeccable as he went at just 5.39. Another factor to add into Badree's unbelievable record is that he typically operates within the powerplay overs at the start of an innings - a period notoriously difficult to keep the brakes on the batting side.
Potential starting XI
Gayle, Kohli, de Villiers, Watson, Sarfaraz, Binny, Jadhav, Harshal Patel, Milne, Chahal, Aaron
Squad analysis
As always, the Royal Challengers' squad looks very strong. Any side boasting the likes of Gayle, Kohli, de Villiers, Watson and Mitchell Starc (albeit injured) is going to be one to beat and this Bangalore outfit are no different.
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| Again, like Australia in the World t20, the absence of Starc may well be the difference between challenging seriously for the title and not (PHOTO: Ryan Pierse) |
The bowling looks lighter, especially with the absent Starc. They have talented yet arguably unproven Indian talent in Varun Aaron, Sreenath Aravind, Yuzvendra Chahal, Iqbal Abdulla, Harshal Patel and Parveez Rasool but they, save perhaps Aaron and Chahal, are unlikely to sustain a consistent period of quality throughout the tournament to help RCB win games.
Kane Richardson and Adam Milne offer some genuine pace as an overseas option, while Badree will need to prove his fitness if he is to play a part in the tournament. Binny and Wiese offer some canny medium pace but on the whole it looks like the bowling may well be a problem as the tournament progresses.
Prediction
Despite a potential shortage in terms of bowling options, having such a powerful top order will make it difficult for Bangalore not to be serious challengers. Having such quality players in such good form in Kohli and de Villiers, RCB will typically post big totals. It will be up to them to defend them or on the flipside, give them a chance at chasing.
They have been close in previous years but have always fallen short at the last hurdle, or earlier. If the batting lineup has an off day then it will take a mammoth effort from the bowlers to come to their respective aid.
Kohli is a fiery captain and will constantly look to get the best out of his side and he will be key in all aspects if they are to challenge. The (potential) top four of Gayle, Kohli, de Villiers and Watson is pretty much as good as it gets and they will surely win more than they lose as a result of having such firepower.
Verdict: will at least challenge for play offs, should qualify
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