IPL 2019: Know your team feat. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is by far the most unfortunate team to not to have won the Indian Premier League (IPL) even once. RCB had earlier featured in three IPL finals back in 2009, 2013 and 2016. This time RCB has boosted their squad by adding Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer and Shivam Dube. They will start their campaign against the reigning champions Chennai Super Kings on 23rd March at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Squad: Virat Kohli (C), Ab de Villiers (VC), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Collin de Grandhomme, Heinrich Klassen, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Tim Southee, Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel, Umesh Yadav, Pawan Negi, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, Shivam Dube, Navdeep Saini, Kulwant Khejroliya, Devdutt Paddikal, Gurkerat Singh Mann, Akshdeep Nath, Prayas Ray Barman, Milind Kumar and Himmat Singh

Challengers indeed have a good formidable squad of 25 members and are possible contenders to win the title but again the goddess of fortune will have the final say. RCB has always been a batting powerhouse and features some of the best batsmen in their unit in the likes of Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer. Parthiv Patel is most likely to don the wicket-keeping gloves and will open the innings for the Challengers. They have an excellent set of all-rounders in Marcus Stoinis, Collin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali and Shivam Dube. Shivam Dube is the most anticipated and exciting prospect to watch out for in Bangalore's camp.

Their bowling department might not be as good as their batting department but it does include some big names like Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee and Yuzvendra Chahal. Like previous seasons Chahal will be the go-to bowler for the skipper to provide important breakthroughs. Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Kulwant Khejroliya are the domestic pacers in the squad. Prays Ray Barman the 16-year-old mystery leggie is another talent to watch out for, if he does get a game he will become the youngest player to feature in Indian Premier League.

RCB's coaching staff consists of Gary Kristen as their head coach along with Ashish Nehra as their bowling coach. Gary Kristen had been the coach of Delhi Capitals in past but didn't have the best of his time with them. But one should not forget he was the man under whom team India lifted 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Top 3 Run Scorers

Virat Kohli - 4948 runs

Ab de Villiers - 3953 runs

Parthiv Patel- 2475 runs

Top 3 Wicket Takers

Umesh Yadav - 111 wickets

Yuzvendra Chahal - 82 wickets

Nathan Coulter-Nile - 36 wickets

Fixtures

1st Match vs Chennai Super Kings, 23rd March (Away) 8 PM IST LIVE

2nd Match vs Mumbai Indians, 28th March (Home) 8 PM IST LIVE

3rd Match vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 31st March (Away) 4 PM IST LIVE

4th Match vs Rajasthan Royals, 2nd April (Away) 8 PM IST LIVE

5th Match vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 5th April (Home) 8 PM IST LIVE

*Timings might differ for it has not yet been finalised.

First Choice Starting XI

Parthiv Patel (WK), Virat Kohli, Ab de Villiers, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dube, Pawan Negi, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Mohammed Siraj