IPL 2017: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Predicted Playing XI

Middle order:

AB de Villiers

Things have changed a lot for Mr. 360 since IPL 2016. In the form of his life throughout 2015, de Villiers fell off the tracks after a back injury brought a halt to his charge. Reports further came in that he was close to retiring from Test cricket.

Ever since his comeback in 2017, he has been in sublime form, notching up a string of good scores to get back to his former explosive self. With no Kohli to start the IPL with, the captaincy mantle will shift to the South African. Also, given that de Villiers has to shield the middle order, he might find it tough to for the kill straight away.

He is expected to miss out on Bangalore’s opening game against Hyderabad, but will be fit in time to be part of the second game. In De Villiers’ absence, Travis Head might get a look-in in the playing XI on April 5.

Travis Head might play RCB’s opening match, with AB de Villiers likely to sit out.

Although he missed the Momentum Cup final due to a back problem, AB de Villiers announced his arrival in India with the following tweet:

Great to be back in Bangalore. Looking forward to the start of the 2017 IPL, come on @RCBTweets! #PlayBold

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 3, 2017

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Mandeep Singh

The diminutive attacking batsman, who had been on the fringes of national selection for a while, finally got his break last year, when he made his T20I debut for India against Zimbabwe. Before that, Mandeep made all the right noises in the domestic circles, and also in the IPL (he was the highest run-getter for Kings XI Punjab in the 2012 season).

Last year, he managed to play just one match, before an injury ruled him out of the season. KL Rahul came in to fill in the gap, and the move resurrected his career. One year later, with KL Rahul injured, Mandeep can come in and do the same for himself.