5 players that could have helped RCB qualify for playoffs

The IPL team with one of the largest fan base, Royal Challengers Bangalore, saw an early exit from the eleventh edition of the tournament yet again. With six wins from fourteen matches, RCB finished at the sixth position ahead of the playoffs.

Lack of Indian all-rounder options coupled with disturbed middle-order and poor death bowling figures... if there's one team that can pull off all of this in a single season, it has to be Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The dismal performance by the Bangalore franchise raised several questions on the team management. The team's over-reliance on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers backfired on them. Interestingly, both Virat and AB scored 1010 runs as compared to 1230 runs scored by rest of the players this season.

This stat sums up the lack of contribution from other team members. Notably, there were several mistakes made by the management ahead of the season. Retaining Sarfaraz instead of KL Rahul proved to be their costliest blunder.

Even after this decision, RCB management had several better options than they purchased during the auctions.

Here's are five unsold players that would have helped RCB qualify for playoffs:

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#5 Morne Morkel

Morne Morkel, the South African pacer, has been one of the best bowlers in the world across all the three formats. He retired from international cricket in February this year but is available for all the county's matches in the County Championship and the T20 leagues such as IPL.

Morkel has played most of his IPL seasons for Kolkata Knight Riders and was a key bowler for them. In 70 IPL games, he has 77 wickets to his name at an economy of just under eight.

RCB faced a prominent challenge with their death bowling due to the lack of quality bowlers. The Proteas pacer has a good record bowling in deaths and could have proven to be a decisive bowler in their struggles.

RCB should keep an eye on his performance in the future.

#4 Moises Henriques

Moises Henriques, the Australian player is one of the best T20 all-rounders with a lot of experience to his name. Henriques was a mainstay in the SunRisers Hyderabad squad in the previous few seasons and played a crucial role in Sunrisers' success.

He has an experience of playing not only in the middle order but has also contributed as a top order batsman. RCB struggled in the middle order with Corey Anderson failing to perform. Moises Henriques would have given a good option for RCB as he is a better player of spin than Anderson.

Overall in the IPL, he has scored 969 runs in 57 IPL matches at an average of 28.50 and has taken 38 wickets at an economy of 8.38.

#3 Shaun Marsh

Shaun Marsh announced his emergence in the world of cricket during the very first IPL season. The Aussie batsman was the orange cap holder of the season as he scored 616 runs at an outstanding average of 68.

Marsh provided best of the starts for Kings XI Punjab with exceptional class batting. But ahead of this IPL, Marsh was one of the unlucky players who went unsold in the auction.

RCB, on the other hand, faced an issue with their opening as McCullum failed to score in the matches that he featured in. It would have been a great approach for the Bangalore franchise to sign an extra opener in Marsh. Following this, Kohli could have suitably come at number three, giving a little more depth to their batting.

#2 Kevon Cooper

The Caribbean all-rounder, Kevon Cooper was a part of Rajasthan Royals for three seasons from 2012 to 2014.

The 2013 season turned out to be wonderful for Cooper as he picked up 19 wickets in 14 games. In his entire IPL career, Cooper has 33 wickets to his name at an economy just under 8.

Cooper had proved his worth with the bat by scoring runs at a strike rate of 170. RCB is in need of such an all-rounder who can be a destructive finisher. Also, his ability bowl deadly yorkers could have come in handy. The management should have considered Kevon Cooper as he is a proven match-winner.

#1 Joe Root

The English batsman, Joe Root has been consistent across all the three formats in the past few years. But just like South African Hashim Amla, Root is not been recognized as a T20 player.

The class that Root posses are exceptional and he truly deserves a place in an IPL team. His record in T20I is quite impressive. In 25 T20I matches that he has played for his national team, he has scored 743 runs at an average of 39.10 and a strike rate of 128.76.

Root could have been a sneaky pick for RCB as he can play the role of an opener as well as a middle order batsman. Root will no doubt be earning a contract next year, but it has to be RCB who must bag him.