For a team that boasted the likes of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle and the great AB de Villers, it is safe to say that Royal Challengers Bangalore have massively under performed over the last ten editions of the IPL.
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During the last decade, RCB possessed some of the very best players in the game including the likes of Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Yuvraj Singh, Kevin Pietersen, Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson in addition to the holy trinity of Kohli, Gayle and ABD.
But for one reason or the other, this incredibly popular franchise has failed to win the competition, as they have suffered some heartbreaking losses in the latter stages of the tournament.
With the IPL now entering it’s eleventh edition, RCB must look at building a balanced squad, that will finally win them their elusive IPL title.
Having retained Kohli, ABD and Sarfaraz, RCB will need to concentrate on buying some good bowlers for their side. Here are five players that they need to target in the upcoming auction.
Jaydev Unadkat
The left arm pacer had a wonderful IPL 2017, as he finished as one of the highest wicket takers.
Unadkat has matured over the years, as the pacer has developed into one of the finest bowlers in the country today.
His excellent death bowling is also a big plus, as the left-armer will surely command a huge fee in this year’s IPL. He will come at a steep price, but Kohli and RCB should look at bringing him into the fold.
Yuzi Chahal
With two RTMs in their kitty, RCB will surely be looking to bring in Yuzi Chahal back to Bengaluru.
Chahal’s rise in stature as one of the most promising bowlers in world cricket will ensure that he commands a very large fee.
While his fee will be a huge concern, RCB will most likely still bring him back.
Chahal’s ability to take wickets in the middle makes him a very attractive acquisition, which is why he is one of the players to watch out for in the auction.
KL Rahul
Karnataka opener, KL Rahul has quickly become one of the best T20 players in world cricket over the last year.
His good performances in last year’s IPL gave him a lot of confidence, which is something that Rahul took onto the international stage.
Had it not been for Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan’s very successful opening partnership, Rahul would have cemented his position at the top of India’s batting order.
RCB may very well use a RTM card on Rahul, but then again he would come at a high price.
Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav is a unique player in world cricket right now. Not only is he a back-up wicket keeper, but also a back-up spinner that can be used by the captain at any point.
The highly effective Jadhav has not yet performed consistently in the IPL, which is why his price may not be extremely high.
At a modest price, RCB should definitely go for Jadhav, as he could be an extremely useful player to have in the squad.
Ben Stokes
RCB have always been a team that boasted of world class superstars in their side. Flamboyance has always been a part of the Bengaluru outfit, which is why Ben Stokes would ideally suit the RCB team.
Kohli, ABD and Stokes would certainly be the most powerful trio in the IPL, as RCB could build their next few seasons around these three.
Stokes will definitely be among the most expensive players, which is why RCB might find it tough to get him. But there is no doubt that he would be worth very penny.
