RCB Playing 11 in IPL 2020: Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI and full squad for IPL 2020

RCB Playing 11 in IPL 2020: The SportsRush present before you Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Predicted XI for the first match of IPL 2020.

With the next season of the Indian Premier League slated to commence on March 29, it is once again the time when there will be discussions regarding Royal Challengers Bangalore not winning a single title till now despite comprising of some stellar names over the years.

It is due to the same reason that Bangalore decided to release 12 players including seven overseas players ahead of IPL 2020 auction. The auction held last month saw them buying eight players including Australia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch and veteran South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn and South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris.

Led by India captain Virat Kohli, RCB would be looking to start afresh this season and execute their plans to the fullest in a bid to march towards their maiden IPL title.

RCB Playing 11 in IPL 2020

Top-order

From Kohli to Shimron Hetmyer, the last season saw Royal Challengers using multiple batsmen at the top of the order alongside wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel. While the southpaw is most likely to open for them in IPL 2020, expect Finch as the front-runner to accompany Patel at the top of the order.

Currently batting at No. 3 for India, Kohli would be wanting to take the same role for his IPL franchise.

Middle-order

Much like Kohli, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers will also continue his favourable batting position of No. 4. Considering the murmurs regarding his international comeback, IPL 2020 will hold more value for the legendary cricketer.

Having scored 65 (48) in a match-winning 144-run partnership for the fourth wicket alongside Hetmyer in a 176-run chase against SunRisers Hyderabad in their last league match, all-rounder Gurkeerat Singh Mann should be batting at No. 5 for RCB right from the start and not after they have bleak chances of qualifying for the playoffs.

As far as playing the big shots in the slog overs is concerned, Bangalore have India all-rounder Shivam Dube and Morris who apart from their hitting skills can also contribute well with the ball in hand. While Dube might not be an archetype four-over specialist, but he surely can contribute as a sixth bowling option.

Bowlers

Another India all-rounder in Washington Sundar has been bowling those economical overs for RCB for two seasons now. Capable of contributing with the bat as well, Sundar should play a vital role for RCB’s Playing XI this season.

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Among the other two Indian bowlers, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and fast bowler Navdeep Saini are certain to feature in the starting XI. One can argue regarding playing an experienced Umesh Yadav ahead of Saini but the latter currently playing for India should work in his favour.

A last conundrum which Kohli will have to solve is deciding to select one between the experience of Steyn and the current rich T20 form of Australia pacer Kane Richardson. It is worth mentioning that Kohli might end up playing the street-smart Richardson over Steyn primarily because of the former’s skill of holding the opposition batsmen.

RCB Playing 11 in IPL 2020 – 1) Parthiv Patel (wk) 2) Aaron Finch 3) Virat Kohli 4) AB de Villiers 5) Gurkeerat Singh Mann 6) Shivam Dube 7) Chris Morris 8) Washington Sundar 9) Kane Richardson / Dale Steyn 10) Yuzvendra Chahal 11) Navdeep Saini.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Full Squad for IPL 2020

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