IPL 2021: 3 Key players who can help RCB to win first IPL trophy

Will Royal Challengers Bangalore's hopes of winning a trophy finally come true in 2021?

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Glenn Maxwell
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Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell of RCB. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

‘Ee saal namde’ is something which every Royal Challengers Bangalore fan has been shouting for some time now. They did it in 2016 and every year after that. But, it is almost absurd at this point how RCB as a franchise has won nothing in these many years, despite possessing some quality players over the years and most importantly, arguably the two best batsmen in the world. 

However, having started the IPL 2021 campaign on a high, it seems that Virat Kohli and co. have got a lot of things going on for themselves this season. Having said that, they have won five out of their seven games in the first phase, and three more wins will take them to the playoffs. In this piece, we will discuss who are the three key players who can help RCB to change its fortunes and finally go all the way to winning the title

3 Key players who can RCB get the first IPL trophy

1. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj of RCB. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Mohammed Siraj has been in terrific form for the past year. It is quite evident that he is a much-improved bowler now and has figured out his lines and lengths better than ever. If one really looks at his IPL stats, they would straightaway notice his high economy rates in the first three seasons of his IPL career. 

9.21 in 2017, 8.95 in 2018, and 9.55 in 2019. But that is a thing with young pacers. We bet on them not for the accuracy but for the number of wickets that they can pick. Through this period, Siraj was picking wickets but his higher economy was hurting his team. But, 2020 was a turning point and 2021 has been so far fantastic, to say the least. 

In 2020, his economy dropped to 8.68 and his strike rate was 14.8. Given these numbers, it can be assumed that he was successful in the UAE. In the first leg of the IPL 2021, which happened after his Test debut, one thing was prominent about his bowling and it was his accuracy. His economy in the first seven matches was 7.34 and he bowled tight lines and nailed yorkers more than ever. And given his current wicket-taking form in England, despite that being Tests, fans can hope Siraj will be a key man for RCB in the second leg. 

2. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell
Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

If anyone takes a look at the numbers of Glenn Maxwell in the IPL, they would be surprised why he keeps getting bigger contracts every year. One of the main reasons why Maxwell fits the bill for so many franchises is because he has something which any team trying to be successful in sub-continental would want. He is an off-spin bowling middle-order dasher, who can murder spin bowling with his hitting. 

Now, those are quite a few things that not all players possess. But, for the longest, the IPL teams didn’t know how to use Maxwell effectively. As far as RCB is concerned, they have not made the same mistake. Apparently, if one has a quality player like Virat Kohli coming before him and keep another brilliant batsman in AB de Villiers after him, it could do a world of good to his confidence. 

So far, in the first leg of the IPL 2021, the big show has shown why he is always paid the big bucks. He scored 223 runs at an average of 37.16 and with a strike rate of 144. And it should be noted that he batted on some bizarre old slow wickets and managed to maintain that strike rate. Maybe, the partnership between Glenn Maxwell and Royal Challengers Bangalore is symbiotic and on some levels, they both needed each other for something to click. 

3. Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga bowling
Wanindu Hasaranga bowling. (Photo Source: Getty Images)

When Wanindu Hasaranga was confusing the Indian batters with his spin-bowling masterclass in Colombo in July, it was almost a given that an Indian Premier League contract was going to come for him at one point or another. And when Adam Zampa ruled himself out of the contention for the UAE leg, there was no better replacement for him than Hasaranga. 

The right-arm spinner is currently the no. 1 T20I bowler in the world. And he has shown his ability to bat. Well, if someone has a first-class average of 41, they can pretty much bat well or at least maintain the balance of the XI. Hasaranga is possibly one of the more exciting young talents out there and he could turn out to be a valuable player for RCB in the second leg. 

With Maxwell, De Villiers, and Kyle Jamieson likely to be three overseas picks, RCB can ponder upon the fact if they really want to try Dan Christian to balance their team. Instead, Hasaranga getting into the XI would make more sense given the conditions in the UAE. His numbers are exciting and Bangalore might have just found out the missing piece in the jigsaw puzzle. 

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