IPL 2019: Royal Challengers Bangalore's strongest possible playing XI

All-rounders

RCB has always stumbled in finding the right balance of batsmen and bowlers. Mainly because the team lacked genuine all-rounders. This time around the team management has executed their strategies well and bought some quality all-rounders like Colin de Grandhomme, Marcus Stoinis, Shivam Dubey, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Akshdeep Nath.

#5 Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis has had a resurrection to his T20 form in the latter part of 2018. RCB made a smart move in trading him for Mandeep Singh with Kings XI Punjab. Stoinis is a hard hitter with a good bit of experience and has shown the same in the recent T20Is vs India. He hit some mighty blows in large Australian stadiums.

More importantly, he defended 13 runs in the final over bowling against India. His use of slower balls and other variations should increase Kohli’s options for death overs.

#6 Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Not many have noticed that Gurkeerat Mann has played for Indian national team. He debuted against Australia in Melbourne in 2016. He is a lower middle-order batsman and can bowl right arm off break.

Gurkeerat has a healthy strike rate of 123.12 in T20s. He is a solid striker of the ball under pressure. In only his second match Gurkeerat had scored a 29 off 12 balls to pull off a thrilling last-ball victory for Kings XI Punjab against Deccan Chargers. Since RCB has had a problem of top order collapse more often than other teams, the longer the lower middle order the better. Hence Gurkeerat is drafted in to add more depth. His off-breaks can come in handy in the middle overs.

#7 Shivam Dubey

Shivam Dubey is the recent heartthrob of the IPL. The swashbuckling all-rounder from Mumbai has been smashing sixes at will in the domestic circuit. RCB brought the services of Dubey for 5 crores at the recent auctions to beef up their lower order. The ability to clear boundary ropes in crucial situations can come handy while chasing huge totals at Chinnaswamy.

His presence along with Gurkeerat and Stoinis can free up Kohli and AB De Villiers to play with a clear mind and lighter shoulders. His medium pace bowling can also be a good changeup in the middle overs.