RCB Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2019: Sportsrush presents before you Royal Challengers Bangalore’s playing XI for IPL 2019.

Having retained only 14 players last month, IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore were expected to actively participate in the recently concluded IPL auction. As a result, the franchise bought nine new players to bolster their squad.

Having already acquired the services of Marcus Stoinis during the trade window, RCB completed a 24-member squad.

Royal Challengers have a history of struggles with their middle-order. Despite a top-order comprising of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, they struggled to finish the innings on umpteen occasions.

After going through their buys from the auction, one realizes that they have bought enough option for their middle-order. Having bought both Indian and overseas middle-order batsmen, one expects them to finish innings in a better way this time round.

One of the three teams (alongside Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab) to have played played the IPL since its inception in 2008 and not won a trophy, RCB would be looking to change the trend next year.

RCB Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2019

1) Top-order – The opening pair of wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel and captain Virat Kohli had faced the new ball in the last season of the IPL as well. The duo is all in likeliness of doing the same this time round as well.

While some people might be having apprehensions regarding Kohli opening the batting, it seems to the best position for him to bat on for the more balls he faces, the better it is for his team.

It will be the first time that former South Africa captain AB de Viliers will be taking part in the IPL as a retired international cricketer. Having scored 282 runs in 10 matches at an average of 31.33 and a strike rate of 162.06 in the recently concluded Mzansi Super League assures us of de Villiers’ current form. Given his one and a half-decade long experience in the format, the franchise would surely be counting on him.

2) Middle-order – Having bought West Indies’ middle-order batsman Shimron Hetmyer in the auction, RCB have fortified their batting riches. Given Hetmyer’s potential with respect to hitting big sixes at will, one expects him to finish innings for RCB next year.

Stoinis is another interesting prospect which RCB would be relying upon. His all-round abilities can turn out to be gold for the franchise. With him at No. 5 followed by hard-hitting Mumbai batsman Shivam Dube, one finds enough power down the order for RCB.

Washington Sundar might not have had as good an IPL season as his maiden one earlier this year, but has considerable amount of potential regarding contributing with bat and ball for his team.

3) Bowlers – In the 69 matches which Yuzvendra Chahal has played for Royal Challengers, he has picked up 82 wickets at an average of 23.56 and a strike rate of 18.18. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Chahal is another of those IPL products who went on to play for India. As their main spinner, he will have a lot of work to do to take his team closer to the title.

Kohli will also enjoy the cushion of a trio of fast bowlers in Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj. Talking of overseas pacers, RCB also have Tim Southee but Coulter-Nile’s abilities with the long handle down the order might just press his case ahead of Southee.

RCB Predicted Playing XI for IPL 2019 – 1) Parthiv Patel (wk) 2) Virat Kohli (c) 3) AB de Villiers 4) Shimron Hetmyer 5) Marcus Stoinis 6) Shivam Dube 7) Washington Sundar 8) Nathan Coulter-Nile 9) Umesh Yadav 10) Mohammad Siraj 11) Yuzvendra Chahal

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