RCB gets it bang right.
For the longest time, RCB has been the team which made most noise during the auction. Be it for selecting a test team in the initial editions, to getting big-ticket buys with massive splurge, RCB was much talked about. However in the last decade of IPL, it has only flattered to deceive its fans. Even Virat Kohli as skipper hasn't changed the story.
In this year's auction, RCB has tried to keep its core intact. Hence it retained the marquee players Kohli and de Villiers and also young exciting talent Sarfraz. By RTM, it has retained Chahal and Negi, who have shown great tact in bowling in the Chinnaswamy pitch, which is a complete batting paradise. on Day 1, RCB made some big acquisitions buying McCullum, de Kock and Grandhomme, alongside Umesh, Chahal and quality allrounders like Moeen Ali and Woakes. It needed Indian firepower to supplement Kohli's aggression. On Day 2, it managed to do it beautifully.
RCB picked up handy Indian batsmen like Parthiv, Mandeep, and allrounders like Washington Sundar,, Pawan Negi. It also got a clutch of pacers giving them a plethora of choice for the final XI.
Overall, RCB has strong Indian batting core with Kohli, Patel, Mandeep in the mix. The foreign batting stars include de Villiers, Moeen Ali, Grandhomme, McCullum, de Kock. There are quality allrounders in Woakes and Washington Sundar. Assuming RCB initially start by playing de Villiers, Woakes, de Kock and McCullum, the Indian bowlers have to chip in. RCB is not short of firepower in the Indian bowling department with likes of Siraj, Umesh, Saini and Anirudh Choudhary in the team.
Overall it is a really balanced side with no real flaws. Almost all players have a good back-up option, which is important in a long league. RCB sort of went under the radar during the auction, because maximum they spent was Rs 7.4 crore for Woakes. However, with good utility buys, RCB has got arguably the best team in the IPL.
Maybe they would have hoped for another top domestic batting star, but it was always going to be a stretch after retaining Kohli before auction for Rs 17 crore. RCB is a genuine top 4 contender, and will be a hard side to beat in their backyard.
Strength: Solid mix of Indian and foreign players
Weakness: Could have got another A-lister Indian batsman in the line-up
Auction Rating: 9.5/10
Full team:
Chris Woakes All-Rounder
Yuzvendra Singh Chahal Bowler
Umesh Yadav Bowler
Brendon McCullum Batsman
M.S. Washington Sundar All-Rounder
Navdeep Saini Bowler
Quinton De Kock Wicket Keeper
Mohammed Siraj Bowler
Nathan Coulter-Nile Bowler
Colin De Grandhomme All-Rounder
M. Ashwin Bowler
Parthiv Patel Wicket Keeper
Moeen Ali All-Rounder
Mandeep Singh All-Rounder
Manan Vohra Batsman
Pawan Negi All-Rounder
Tim Southee Bowler
Kulwant Khejroliya Bowler
Aniket Choudhary Bowler
Pavan Deshpande All-Rounder
Anirudha Ashok Joshi All-Rounder
Virat Kohli Batsman
Ab de Villiers Batsman
Sarfaraz Khan
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "RCB")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}