IPL 10, Match 43, RCB v KXIP – Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted XI

The Royal Challengers Bangalore were the team to beat in the previous edition of the tournament. They had finished up on the losing side in the finals of IPL 2016. This year, they have been nowhere close to being the team they were last year. The batting order which the team boasts of, has failed to fire on most occasions. The bowling has been lackluster as well.

With no performances coming through in either of the departments, it was only obvious to see RCB out of the race for the playoffs. They became the first team to be officially out of the race for the knockout stages. With only 2 wins in 11 matches and a game being washed out, the team has only 5 points to their name. Even if they win the next couple of fixtures, they will end up heading nowhere ahead in the points table.

Now, they have two more matches remaining in the season. This comes as an opportunity for them to test their bench strength for the next edition of the tournament. Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to host the Kings XI Punjab at Bengaluru next. While they cannot advance further in the tournament, they will certainly be a threat for the other teams they face next.

RCB can well prove to be the party spoilers for KXIP and the Kolkata Knight Riders if they manage to upset the two sides in the next three days. RCB have nothing but pride to play for. Also, they have the sea of red backing them despite their poor run. Here is what the predicted XI of the Royal Challengers Bangalore looks like for their encounter against Kings XI Punjab:

Openers (Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle)

Skipper Virat Kohli is a certain starter in the playing eleven. There is absolutely no reason why he would not be featuring for the team in this particular game. Kohli has scored runs at an average close to 35 this season and is the second leading run-getter for RCB in IPL 10. With 3 fifties to his name, he has certainly not been short on good form. It is the other batters who have left him alone at the center.

Australian batsman Travis Head had opened with Kohli in the previous match against the Mumbai Indians. The team might be tempted to give Chris Gayle a go in this match at his expense. Gayle’s willow has largely been quiet this season. However, the skipper Kohli had earlier remarked that Gayle will be preferred for the home games in the tournament.

Middle Order (AB de Villiers, Kedar Jadhav, Sachin Baby)

One of the key reasons for the failure of the Royal Challengers Bangalore this year has been their inconsistent middle-order. They have heavily relied on the services of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the top order. AB had scored well in the first game that he played. However, he has largely lost his touch since then. Also, he has not been very comfortable at the crease.

Kedar Jadhav has been doing a decent job with the wicket-keeping gloves. Also, he has been the leading runscorer for team RCB this season thus far. He has the ability to hit the long ball and the team would want him to do that. He has not been clicking well in the last couple of matches and that has hurt the team big time.

The place for one Indian batsman remains in the middle order. The team could either stick with Mandeep Singh or give the due share of chances to somebody else who has been warming the bench thus far. Mandeep has failed to get a big score under his name in the season. Someone like Sachin Baby or Vishnu Vinod could walk in the team at his expense.

All-rounders (Shane Watson, Stuart Binny)

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson was benched for the major part of the tournament. However, he was brought back to the lineup in the previous game for the team. Watson bowled decently well in the match. Also, earlier in the tournament, he had bowled a match winning over against the Delhi Daredevils in the slog overs. He needs to fire with the bat though.

Stuart Binny might get another go in the team. He has been picking up a few off wickets every now and then. However, the inability to control the run flow has been hampering his figures. With the bat, he has got ample opportunities but is yet to make an impact in the tournament.

Bowlers (Samuel Badree, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aniket Choudhary, Sreenath Arvind)

Out of the lot, if there has been one positive aspect for the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season, then it has to be their bowling. Samuel Badree already has a hat-trick to his name this season. Badree has been picking up wickets up front for RCB in the powerplay overs this season.

Yuzvendra Chahal has been the first choice spinner in the lineup. Chahal has been impressive in every game and is the solitary consistent performer with the ball for RCB this season. In the pace department, Sreenath Arvind and Aniket Choudhary have been doing the job.

They have not been the most immaculate when it comes to their line and lengths but have somehow managed to keep their quota of overs going. If RCB wishes to finish on a winning note, they would want their pacers to step up to the occasion with the new ball.