Virat Kohli's men who could feature against Ashwin's side

So close yet so far is how we can describe the last ten years for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL. RCB has been able to qualify for three IPL finals but failed to register their maiden title. After a mortifying loss against KKR, RCB will be looking to register their first win against KXIP.

The team which was traditionally known for having a star batting line-up has now also strengthened their bowling department. All-rounders like Washington Sundar, Chris Woakes, and Corey Anderson will play a key role in the team's success. Here's a probable XI for the RCB team:

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Top Order: Quinton De Kock, Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli

The Bangalore hierarchy has added Brendon McCullum and Quinton De Kock as openers this season which builds up a strong batting line up. The Protea will be also seen keeping the wickets.

The opening pair of De Kock and McCullum will assure a blistering start to the innings. If these two batsmen withstand the bowlers for the initial overs, RCB could easily accomplish a big total. In the first game, McCullum scored 43 runs off just 27 balls but his counterpart failed to make most of the opportunity in the last game.

The Indian skipper will bat at no. 3, He is the only player to hit 4 IPL centuries in the same season. His contribution to the team was priceless in the 2016 IPL season. Though he played as an opener in the 2016 season, he will play at the number 3 position as he did in the first game against KKR.

Middle Order: Ab De Villiers, Mandeep Singh and Manan Vohra

Middle-order maestros

Batting at no.4 will be none other than Ab De Villiers, The Protea batsman will be high on confidence after winning the test series against Australia and scoring 44 runs off just 23 balls against KKR. With a strike rate of over 145 in T20, Ab de Villiers becomes an automatic choice for the no.4 spot.

Batting next will be Mandeep Singh. He is a talented batsman from the state of Punjab who can play at a high striking rate. Mandeep has played many Match-winning knocks for RCB. It was Mandeep Singh because of whom RCB was able to set up a big total. He scored 37 runs in 18 balls at a strike-rate of 205.56.

Sarfaraz Khan who was retained by RCB over the likes of Chris Gayle and KL Rahul played a mediocre knock of 6 runs in the previous game. Manan Vohra who has performed exceptionally well for the KXIP might make his ground the playing XI in place of Sarfaraz.

All Rounders: Chris Woakes

From playing for KKR to play against KKR

Chris Woakes is one of the finest all-rounders in the world. He made his T20I debut against Australia in 2011 wherein he scalped the wicket of then captain Cameron White. Last year, with 17 wickets he was the leading wicket-taker for KKR.

In the previous game against KKR, Woakes dismissed explosive batsmen like Chris Lynn, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. Also, Woakes will need to fire with the bat in the upcoming game to cement his place in the team.

Spinners: Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal is a quality spinner

Yuzvendra Chahal will be the spearhead of the spin department. Chahal bamboozles batsmen with his leg-spin variations. He also has the ability to bowl at the death overs as well as in the middle overs.

He has been a key player in the RCB's success in the past few years. His performances in IPL has gained him a place in the national side.

Washington Sundar who won the man of the series award in the recently concluded Nidahas trophy will accompany Chahal in the spin department. Sundar can bowl crucial overs in the powerplay.

Skipper Kohli will expect these two spinners to continue their golden run from the Nidahas Trophy to the IPL.

Pacers: Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj

Siraj might make his place in the playing XI

Kulwant Khejroliya who failed to make his mark in the bowling might be replaced with Siraj. Siraj flourished his death-over bowling skills under Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra last year playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He earned a place in the Indian National team by his outstanding performance in death overs for Sunrisers.

Siraj bowls deceptively, his run-up intimates that he is a left-arm pacer but bowls with his right-arm. Such deceptive skills and ability to bowl in the death overs make him a precious bowler.

Umesh Yadav made up to the expectations made by him and will be able to retain his place in the team. He took 2 wickets from 4 overs bowled by giving just 27 runs.

He will open the innings for RCB with the ball. Yadav can stun many batsmen with his astounding pace.