This line has now become a cliché. But we still have to write it down. The Royal Challengers of Bangalore will see the elusive title in IPL 2020. After this day, the best hour in the IPL is the final three appearances.
Could they rewrite the script this time around? Even their dead-hard fans will leave the room for that BUT in their minds though thinking that this is the year of the Royal Challengers. The RCB now has a new logo, uniform and support staff. Perhaps the title will complete the evolutionary loop.
1. Strength:
In Kohli, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali, the Royal Challengers have three distinct but very successful batsmen. Add to them the firepower of the talented Devdutt Padikkal and the Australian limited-over Captain Aaron Finch, the RCB line-up has the normal impregnable look. Finch was too late in the fettle. Sri Lankan pacemaker Isuru Udana, a T20 specialist, and South African all-rounder Chris Morris were also added to the auction.
The Royal Challengers had a decent combination of bowlers in Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav and Washington Sundar. This time, they’ve got a little more balance on paper, and the RCB is hoping to be on the podium this time, with the winners’ cup, of course.
2. Weakness:
Say whatever you want, but the RCB’s beating will be hanged on the willows of Kohli and De Villiers. If they are looking for a change of fortune, RCB will need some serious contribution from the likes of Finch, Moeen, Devdutt, Shivam Dube, Parthiv Patel, etc., and intermittent fireworks will have little more than decorative value.
This cloud of disparity is haunting their bowling, too. Yeah, they have Chahal, Umesh and Washington who can have an effect on the UAE pitches. But will others like Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj and Dale Steyn continue to help them? Saini, who’s still new, and Siraj can go on a run while Steyn has not played any competitive cricket since the Mzansi Super League last year. Although the South African great ‘s skills are redoubtable, it remains to be seen if his now disabled 37-year-old body will last the race. At least in certain games, it could make a decisive difference.
3. Squad:
Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Moeen Ali, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Shivam Dube, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aaron Finch, Chris Morris, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Pavan Deshpande, Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Shahbaz Ahamad.
4. Stars To Watch Out For:
Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aaron Finch, Umesh Yadav.
5. IPL Prediction:
If they found a way to make successful team efforts, the RCB will once again be looking at a different team with envy. We just don’t have any evidence at this point to believe otherwise. Their best chance could be a play-off spot, but probably they could end up on the fifth or sixth.
