Even before the start of the IPL 2023 season, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have had to deal with injury issues to some of their key players. After the ruling out of England all-rounder Will Jacks – who’s been replaced with Michael Bracewell – RCB are fretting over the fitness of pacer Josh Hazlewood and batsman Rajat Patidar.
Hazlewood is currently recovering from Achilles tendonitis and hasn’t played a single match this year so far, including missing the Test and ODI series against India. With the WTC Final and the Ashes to follow the IPL 2023, it’s still uncertain how many matches Hazlewood will play for RCB, if he will play at all.
Patidar, who hammered a match-winning century in the Eliminator vs LSG last season, is dealing with a heel injury. He is currently at the NCA and is set to miss at least the first half of the IPL 2023.
RCB strongest predicted XI for IPL 2023:
Faf du Plessis (C), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj
Reece Topley and David Willey are options for RCB if Hazlewood is not fit, with Topley bowling impressively in the SA20, including in the death overs.
With Patidar out for at least the first half, Kohli is likely to slot back to number 3 instead of opening. Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudesai, or Mahipal Lomror are options to partner Du Plessis at the top.
RCB’s squad also lacks depth in the Indian pace department with barely known names to follow after Siraj and Harshal. All-rounder Akash Deep could get matches during the season, and so could the destructive Kiwi opener Finn Allen.
RCB squad for IPL 2023:
Faf du Plessis (capt), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudesai, Karn Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, David Willey, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav, Michael Bracewell
