Ahead of the IPL 2023 auction, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had retained most of their players that reached the playoffs in the IPL 2022. Then they bought a few budget purchases while spending big on two England players.
Will Jacks (3.20 cr), Reece Topley (1.90 cr), Rajan Kumar (70 lakh), Avinash Singh (60 lakh), Himanshu Sharma (20 lakh), Sonu Yadav (20 lakh), Manoj Bhandage (20 lakh) were the signings made by RCB in IPL 2023 auction.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) full Squad for IPL 2023:
Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Faf Du Plessis(C), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Karn Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, David Willey, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Will Jacks, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav
RCB had a good season in IPL 2022, especially with their bowling clicking. They reached the playoffs in the 3rd spot, and defeated LSG in the Eliminator, but lost RR in the Qualifier 2, falling one step away from the final.
RCB have reached 3 finals in 15 seasons, but have lost all three of them – their dream of lifting the maiden IPL trophy remaining just a dream yet.
However, there is a good chance – and perhaps even a better chance than last year – that RCB might lift their first-ever IPL trophy in IPL 2023.
Here are 2 major reasons why RCB can win the IPL 2023:
King Kohli is back in form
Only MS Dhoni acquires an aura similar, or perhaps more, than Kohli does in the IPL. Fans throng into the stadiums and to their TV screens to see this giant of an icon of world cricket.
Last year, however, Kohli had a grim tournament.
In IPL 2022, Virat Kohli averaged only 22 with a lowly strike rate of 115
He was dismissed for a duck thrice last season and managed a few more single-digit scores, and bore a forlorn look often; he was scratchy, seemed less confident in his shots.
Now, however, things have changed. King is back. He smashed his maiden T20I century last year, was the leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, has cracked 3 ODI hundreds in a space of 4 ODIs, and is looking as assured of his batting as he’s ever been.
Certainly, this Kohli will prove to be a much bigger contributor with the bat, on the scorecard to RCB than he did last year.
Not to forget, RCB and Kohli will be back to playing 7 league matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the high-scoring, flat-pitched, tin-pot sized ground, where Kohli has enjoyed great success with the bat. Him getting into form, and being in a happy mental space, in the months leading up the IPL 2023 is a massive boost for Royal Challengers Bangalore, who once again conjure up their dream of an IPL trophy.
RCB have stability in their squad, which has gotten stronger with addition of Jacks and Topley
Royal Challengers Bangalore were praised last season for their squad composition because their all-rounders – Max, Willey, Shahbaz – provided the balance and their bowling attack included two star overseas players – Josh and Wanindu
Now, they have included the likes of Will Jacks and Reece Topley – both of whom were in superb form in the recent SA20 tournament. Jacks, in particular, took the tournament by storm with his explosive batting and he can also bowl off-spin, making him the perfect backup for Maxi, while Topley is a good backup for Josh, who is dealing with a long-term Achilles injury that might see him miss initial few matches in Indian Premier League 2023
What Royal Challengers Bangalore will need is to lock in the opening partner of Faf , who also was in tremendous form in SA20.
Since Finn Allen doesn’t get into the 4 overseas players, the likes of Anuj Rawat, who opened last season in few matches, and Mahipal Lomror are good domestic options.
Not just RoyalChallengers Bangalore’s first XI, but the backups also are good, experienced alternatives, making their squad a whole and complete, filled with experience, quality, and variety.
IPL might just be the season where the dream of Royal Challengers Bangalore and its fans becomes a reality.
