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

Lower middle order

Kedar Jadhav

The rewards might have come a little late, but 32-year old Kedar Jadhav is finally getting the right opportunities. Given a more prominent role of a finisher in the recent ODI series, Jadhav has emerged as a dependable batsman with an eye to pick gaps and the ability to soak in pressure. Given that the RCB middle order is fickle, someone like Jadhav can bring sanity in the middle if a collapse takes place.

Also, Jadhav is likely to emerge as the frontrunner to don the keeping gloves. He might not be brilliant behind the stumps, but he can do the job decently.

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Sachin Baby

Sarfaraz Khan would have pipped him to the playing XI, but an untimely injury to the 19-year old means that he will most likely sit out of the tournament. In such a case, left-handed Sachin Baby, who played 11 matches for the franchise last year, might get a longer rope this time. He couldn’t get going in the last edition, but the Kerala limited overs captain can tonk the ball, as demonstrated by his strike rate last year, which hovered around the 140s.

His off spin is also a useful addition, and he was used sparingly last year, even managing to pick up a couple of wickets. If Watson does require some variety in the bowling attack, Baby can roll his arm over.

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Stuart Binny

The internet can be a harsh place, and it did not spare Stuart Binny when he hurtled to an all-time low against West Indies in 2016, getting pasted by Evin Lewis in a T20 (he got smacked for five sixes in one over). The emergence of Hardik Pandya completely edged out Binny, and with age not on his side, an Indian recall looks bleak.

To harbour any hopes of getting a place back, Binny will have to have a stellar IPL. And, as much as Binny needs the IPL, RCB needs Binny to kick. Already looking fragile, the line-up could gain from Binny’s flexibility as an all-rounder.