IPL 2019: RCB's best XI for the opening match against CSK

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League is just a week away. IPL kicks off on 23rd March with the defending Champions Chennai Super Kings facing the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings has not made any notable changes in their squad except for the inclusion of Mohit Sharma and on the other hand, the Men in Red have made quite a few changes.

Exciting talents like Shimron Hetmyer, Shivam Dubey and Marcus Stoinis has been added to the squad of RCB, and some big names like Brendon McCullum and Quinton de Kock were dropped from the side.

RCB Squad: Parthiv Patel, AB de Villiers, Tim Southee, Virat Kohli (c), Umesh Yadav, Moeen Ali, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Akshdeep Nath, Milind Kumar, Marcus Stoinis, Navdeep Saini, Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Kulwant Khejroliya, Devdutt Padikkal, Prayas Barman

Due to the upcoming Australia tour of Pakistan, Marcus Stoinis and Nathan Coulter-Nile will unavailable for the tournament opener. Let us discuss the best XI for RCB for the first match against the reigning champions.

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Openers: Parthiv Patel (wicket-keeper) and Virat Kohli (captain)

Parthiv Patel- Stroke-making Wicket-keeper

The veteran Indian wicket-keeper will be one of the openers in this year's RCB side. The presence of Brendon McCullum and Quinton de Kock hindered the chances of Parthiv Patel making into the playing XI, but he is expected to make into the first XI this season.

His presence at the top will allow RCB to play an overseas all-rounder which helps the balance of the side.

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Virat

Kohli - Best Batsman in the World

The best batsman of this generation walks into the team as the other opener. Virat Kohli will be looking to win the maiden IPL trophy for the team from Bangalore.

Captain Kohli has been in breath-taking form for the last few years, and he is expected to continue his merry run in this IPL. Kohli was also the highest run-scorer for the team in last year's IPL.

Middle-order: Ab de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer, and Shivam Dube

Ab De Villiers - Mr.360

AB de Villiers will be back in Royal Challengers Bangalore colors to play this year's Indian Premier League. After announcing retirement from international cricket, ABD has been traveling all around the world playing the shortest format of the game.

A more focused, and a more relaxed de Villiers is a more dangerous de Villiers. AB should bat at No. 4 in the opening match against RCB.

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Shimron Hetmyer- The X-Factor

The IPL debutant Shimron Hetmyer should play his first match against the CSK at the No.4 position. Performances in the CPL and in the West Indies tour of India has earned Hetmyer a chance to play with the likes of ABD and Kohli.

A power-hitter in the middle order was something RCB was missing out last year, and an X-factor player like Shimron can do justice to this spot.

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Shivam Dubey - The Dark Horse

An incredible domestic season has earned Shivam Dube a place in the RCB squad. The 25-year-old all-rounder from Mumbai is an upcoming player with a great potential to succeed at the bigger stage

Dube's performance this season has been the only silver lining for the Mumbai side, who otherwise had a pretty disappointing campaign. The left-handed batsman scored 632 runs in eight games with two centuries and three fifties at an average of just 63.96. He has been very impressed everyone with the ball too, taking 28 wickets with a best of 7/53 against Karnataka.

He should be the one to walk into the team at No.5.

All-rounders: Colin de Grandhomme and Washington Sundar

Colin de Grandhomme - The Beast

Like Parthiv Patel, Colin de Grandhomme was benched because of Quinton de Kock and Brendon McCullum, but this season he faces a new challenger in Marcus Stoinis. With Stoinis busy with Australia, de Grandhomme will the one to walk into the side at No.6.

His medium-fast bowling skills will be very useful in the slow pitches of Chepauk, and with the bat, he can pack a punch.

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Sundar will be playing in his hometown

Washington Sundar is the Indian all-rounder that RCB is trying to nurture. After a horrid season 11, Sundar was retained by the RCB management. This retention shows the value that Sundar brings to the table.

He can be useful with the bat down the order and is very effective with the ball in the powerplays. With RCB playing in Chennai, he is one player to watch out for because of his hometown connect.

Bowlers: Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Mohammad Siraj

Tim Southee - RCB's best death bowler last season

Tim Southee's inclusion in the second half of the IPL tournament increased the death bowling skills of the RCB team. With tight overs in the back, and also some good bowling in the powerplay, Southee protected the RCB bowling attack.

His recent form has been superb with him picking up a 6-for against Bangladesh. In the absence of Nathan Coulter-Nile, one can expect Tim Southee to feature in the starting XI.

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Umesh Yadav- RCB's leading wicket-taker in season 11

IPL season 11 witnessed the rise of Umesh Yadav in the shorter format of the game. Although he was expensive in the death overs, he was quite impressed with the new-ball by picking wickets of the top-order.

Yadav picked up 20 wickets to become the leading wicket-taker of the side. Virat Kohli will be hoping he will pick up from where he left off last year.

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Yuzvendra Chahal- Best bowler in RCB history

Yuzvendra Chahal is the leading wicket-taker for RCB in IPL history. He has been Kohli's go-to bowler over the years and will continue to be the same. Chahal will be looking at this IPL as an opportunity to confirm his spot in the Indian World Cup team.

With 82 wickets next to his name with an economy rate of 7.77, Chahal is the leader of this bowling attack.

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Mohammed Siraj- Indian death bowler

The third fast bowler in this side will be Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has been in great form while playing for the India A side and the Hyderabad Ranji side. In the 11 matches that he played for the team from Bangalore, he has taken 11 wickets.

Siraj is one such player who should be groomed for the future, and without any doubt, he will feature in the playing XI.