IPL 2022: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and its desires: Despite all the glitz and glam of the tournament, despite all the promises of scouting new stars, despite all the money that flies, at the end of the day, it all boils down to the crude math and a burning desire of landing the IPL trophy.
Mumbai Indians have done it exceedingly well as they have five IPL trophies to their names while Chennai Super Kings, the team with the highest number of final appearances has been in the second position with four titles next to their name.
If there has been one team that has promised immense talent and excitement is the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The team led by the numero uno Virat Kohli for the last eight seasons has been in the finals a staggering three times but are still to lay their hands on the coveted silverware.
This year’s auction, however, heralds a new dawn for the team. With two new teams coming in, almost all of the teams have failed to garner the much-needed firepower in all their departments. With all said and done, the Challengers actually have a few glittering names in their ranks that can prove to be the game-changer. In this story, we will take a look at five reasons why the Challengers’ long-standing trophy drought may finally meet its end.
The big three of batting
One may argue as much as one would like to that RCB are going into the tournament with a very shallow batting order and if the bowlers manage to find a way through the top three, it is all paradise for them. Even the most ardent RCB fan would be hesitant to disagree with it but if you take a look at the top three, getting a way past them is almost next to scaling Everest for a bowler.
The top three comprises Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, three names that are well established in the circuit of T20 cricket and even if any one of them clicks, he can single-handedly carry the team’s attack. These three come with a perfect blend of calm and aggression that will undermine the bowlers slowly yet steadily. By the time they would realise the damage that has already been done, these three will very well be on their way to carnage.
Faf du Plessis’ captaincy will be a big boost for RCB in IPL 2022
Agree to it or not, the former South African opener is a beast in the head and he has already proven it to the world how his strategical outlook can define a team even if it is questioned by an entire nation. He is clear in his goals and he means business. He also has an excellent repertoire of players at his disposal that will allow him to rotate his options accordingly. More importantly, Faf du Plessis comes with the champion’s luck, which is kind of a necessity in the business.
Arguably, RCB have the strongest bowling side of IPL 2022
Had Jofra Archer been available for IPL 2022, it was needless to say that Mumbai Indians would have had the strongest bowling unit. However, with Archer absent from the fold, the needle will automatically shift towards the RCB.
With the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel filling up the Indian numbers, Josh Hazlewood and Jason Behrendorff can brew a full-blown tornado to lay waste to the oppositions. Now, this is just the pace department that we are talking about.
RCB also has a very strong spinning unit that comprises Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed. Now one may say that Hasaranga got thrashed around last year but one also needs to consider the fact that the caravan shifted to UAE when the Lankan came to bowl.
He thrives best under the subcontinent conditions and with the tournament starting in Mumbai, he can be an absolute game-changer.
RCB have decent Indian base in IPL 2022
Questions were aplenty when the Challengers went for Dinesh Karthik in the auction. However, this can very well be a masterstroke. The hitter that Karthik is, touches all base for the Challengers. He is a fine striker of the ball and will most likely be used as the impetus in the team’s run rate towards the lower middle order.
RCB has also got the likes of Mahipal Lomror and Shahbaz Ahmed to cover their middle-order batting. When it comes to bowling, Mohammed Siraj and Harshal can be absolute bangers. Anuj Rawat is a surprise pick for sure but he has decent domestic numbers backing his cause.
#5 A deluge of big hitters in the side
With everything said and done about the cold-hard calculations, the shortest format of the game promises entertainment in its crudest state. When we say entertainment, nothing goes better than the war-dance of the hitters.
RCB have got an impressive sequence of big hitters that features, Glenn Maxwell, David Willey, Dinesh Karthik, Finn Allen and Harshal Patel. The team will never go out of strikers or ammunition when a couple of big sixes become the need for the hour.
