RCB, a team that is still waiting for its first trophy since its inception. Despite having players like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers in their arsenal, they have failed to win the elusive title. Hoping for a different result this time, the Bengaluru-based franchise retained its Indian core with Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and an uncapped player, Yash Dayal.
However, many fans were upset with RCB’s decision to not retain their most important bowler of the past few years, Mohammed Siraj. Not only that, Glenn Maxwell, Faf Du Plessis, Cameron Green, and Will Jacks are also not part of the team anymore. They needed a strong replacement for the former captain, and they did that with the inclusion of Phil Salt in the team, who performed well for KKR last season.
Along with Salt, they also brought in big hitters like Liam Livingstone, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Jitesh Sharma. Young left-handers Jacob Bethell and Devdutt Padikkal can also contribute to the team. In the fast-bowling department, there was a void after Siraj’s departure, which RCB tried to fill by bringing in experienced pacers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Lungi Ngidi.
RCB has strengthened its squad by adding a variety of spinners. Krunal Pandya could be their most important acquisition, as he can deliver four overs and contribute with the bat. Livingstone can chip in with a few overs, while young bowler Suyash Sharma will handle the leg-spin duties. With a dynamic squad and a reinforced middle order after years, RCB can finally aim to lift their first trophy in the 18th season.
RCB’s weakness which can prevent them from winning their 1st trophy
Even with a fairly balanced squad this time, there are still some weaknesses RCB should have addressed in the auction. One of their key concerns is the lack of a death-over specialist. They could have targeted players like Mustafizur Rahman, Sean Abbott, or former RCB player Wayne Parnell.
Another weakness of this team is the lack of quality all-rounders. RCB may have to rely on the brilliance of Krunal Pandya and Liam Livingstone. However, their inconsistency over the past few years has been evident. There were several strong options in the unsold list, such as Dasun Shanaka, Daryl Mitchell, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Shardul Thakur, whom RCB should have targeted.
Having only one left-handed batter in the top seven could seriously hurt the team. RCB could use Devdutt Padikkal or Jacob Bethell as an impact player to add an extra left-hander. If they manage to overcome these weaknesses, RCB will be strong contenders for the trophy.
