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IPL 2020: Royal Challengers Bangalore – Strengths and weaknesses

Another season and another opportunity for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who want to desperately win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title.

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IPL 2020: Royal Challengers Bangalore – Strengths and weaknesses
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Another season and another opportunity for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) who want to desperately win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title.

Led by Virat Kohli since 2013, RCB are the biggest underachievers in the cash-rich tournament's history. They have finished as runners-up thrice but have not been able to cross that barrier.

Talking about the 2019 IPL, RCB's performance was below-par where they finished at the bottom of the table. Now expecting RCB to reboot will help them as they have got some major changes in their squad.

Bringing in Mike Hesson and Simon Katich into their coaching staff, with the addition of Aaron Finch could help the men in red.

Strengths of Royal Challengers Bangalore 

Excellent top order: The departure of Chris Gayle made RCB's top-order has looked bleak, however, they now have the services of Australian opener Aaron Finch, along with Parthiv Patel.

This opening pair will let skipper Virat Kohli bat at his preferred No. 3 while AB de Villiers could follow him. They also have local boy Devdutt Padikkal who could open for RCB.

Experienced all-rounders: Leading with Moeen Ali, RCB have the newly-acquired Chris Morris who could become the differential for them.

Among Indians, RCB have Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar, while the uncapped Pavan Deshpande is another option. Both Dube and Sundar have represented Team India. They have Punjab’s Gurkeerat Mann and the all-rounders as options.

Weakness

Middle-order woes: Major issue that has plagued RCB is that they are dependent on the top order and have no strong support in the middle. Following AB de Villiers – who is expected to bat at No. 4 – is Moeen Ali, and apart from that, there is simply aren’t any tried-and-tested IPL batsmen.

Death bowler hunt: An issue that RCB don’t seem to address is their death bowling. The franchise attempted to shore up their fast bowling by buying Chris Morris and though he looks like a good option, the numbers tell a different story.

Morris’ economy rates in the past two IPL seasons have been 9.27 and 10.21 respectively. On the other hand, RCB have Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav and the issues with them is known to all. 

RCB’s only hope at the death this season appears to be Navdeep Saini, who picked up 11 wickets last season at an economy rate of 8.27.

Royal Challengers Bangalore full squad

Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Morris, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shivam Dubey, Aaron Finch, Umesh Yadav, Kane Richardson, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Dale Steyn, Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Mann Singh, Isuru Udana, Devdutt Padikkal, Shahbaz Ahamad, Joshua Philippe, Pavan Deshpande.

Royal Challengers Bangalore probable playing XI

Virat Kohli (C), Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers, Parthiv Patel, Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar, Shivan Dube, Chris Morris, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini

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