IPL 2019: Strongest Possible XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore

One of the most popular franchises in Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore have always played bold and left it all on the field. However, they have not been fortunate enough to get their hands on one of the most coveted trophies in franchise cricket.

They are known for their huge fan base and a lot of great cricketers have played for this team in the past. In 2011 and 2016, they came close to winning the title but lost in the finals on both occasions. Last year, they were 6th in the standings and failed to make it to playoffs.

This year at the auction, they made some good moves and will be looking to clinch their first IPL trophy. In this article, let us take a look at the strongest possible eleven for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Virat Kohli (c)

Virat Kohli is expected to open the innings for RCB

Virat Kohli is one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian Premier League and even though his team has never won the trophy, Kohli has played a lot of good innings in the world's most prestigious league.

He has been with the Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 when the tournament started and is one of the only few players in the league to have played all the seasons with a single franchise.

In 163 matches so far, he has scored 4948 runs at a staggering average of 38.35, accompanied by 4 hundreds and 34 fifties. He is currently second on the list of most runs scored in the IPL, only 37 runs behind Suresh Raina (4985).

Kohli has been opening the batting for RCB whenever the team has needed him to open for the last few years. He has been successful as an opener and is expected to open the innings this time as well.

The skipper can provide solid starts at the top of the order and his blistering innings can help the team take the attack to the opposition bowlers early in the innings by taking advantage of the field restrictions.

Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel has played for seven franchises so far in the IPL. He is best known for his three-year stint with the Mumbai Indians where he scored 911 runs in 40 matches, including 5 half-centuries.

He provided good starts for MI as an opener and showed everyone that he still has it in him to succeed in big tournaments. Last year, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore and had a decent season where he scored 153 runs in just 6 matches at a strike rate of 140.36.

This season, he is expected to be a regular feature in playing XI and will also handle the wicket-keeping responsibilities.

AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers has been one of the mainstays of RCB batting lineup from the last eight years and has played several game-winning knocks for the franchise. Widely recognised as Mr.360 for his ability to hit any delivery for a boundary, de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in May.

However, he is playing in this year's IPL and will be one of the key players in the RCB side and for the team to score huge totals, they need de Villiers at his best.

Shimron Hetmyer

If there is a cricketer whom the whole world is waiting eagerly to watch in this year's IPL, it is Shimron Hetmyer. After setting the stage on fire in the Caribbean Premier League, he went on to have a great series against India where he smashed his third ODI century in just his 13th one-day game.

People expected several teams to go for him in the auction and to no one's surprise, Hetmyer, who entered the auction with a base price of just INR 50 Lakhs, was bought for a whopping INR 4.20 crores. RCB's middle order will heavily depend on Hetmyer this season.

Colin de Grandhomme

After his first season in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore and was retained at the end of the IPL 2018. The 32-year-old is an all-rounder and can play good cameos with the bat towards the end of the innings.

Last year, he scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 155.95 and scored some crucial runs in the slog overs. With the ball, he picked up just 2 wickets but showed the ability to bowl whenever required for the team.

Gurkeerat Singh Mann

Even though Gurkeerat Singh Mann spent six seasons with Kings XI Punjab, he did not make much of impact with the team, but gave the team an option in all departments. Last year, he was with the Delhi Daredevils but did not get to feature in the playing XI.

He was the leading run scorer for Punjab in 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 295 runs in six matches. This year at the auction, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore and going with his current form, he deserves a place in the playing XI for RCB.

Washington Sundar

The 19-year-old bowling all-rounder was adjudged the Man of the Series in 2018 Nidahas Trophy after picking up 8 wickets. He also became the youngest ever T20I player to bag a maiden 3-wicket haul.

He spent the last season with the Royal Challengers and in the limited opportunities that he was provided, he looked great and showed his ability with both bat and ball. He will be looking to make it count this year.

Tim Southee

Tim Southee is one of the best bowlers in the world and is a nightmare for the best of the batsmen. Even though he has not been able to replicate the same amount of success in the IPL, he is still one of the most sought-after bowlers in the league.

After two impressive seasons with Mumbai Indians, he was selected by Royal Challengers Bangalore in last year's auction, and picked up 5 wickets in 8 matches. The franchise will expect him to perform better this time as he leads their bowling attack.

Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav is one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the IPL and had been solid for both Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. After spending five seasons with KKR and carrying bowling responsibilities on his shoulders, he was selected by RCB in last year's IPL auction.

Yadav was sensational and picked up 20 wickets in just 14 matches at an economy of 7.86. He provided them with a wicket whenever the opposition batsmen started building a partnership and played a key role for the team.

Mohammed Siraj

After a great debut season with Sunrisers Hyderabad where he picked up 10 wickets in just 6 matches, Mohammed Siraj was released by the franchise and entered the last year's auction. He was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the auction and that bolstered their bowling attack.

He was brilliant and picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.95. He was one of RCB's most successful bowlers last season and things are only expected to get better for this young Hyderabadi talent.

Yuzvendra Chahal

If there is one player who has benefited the most because of the IPL, it is Yuzvendra Chahal. The right-arm leg break bowler has become a regular feature in the Indian ODI side because of his success in the IPL.

He has been with the RCB franchise for the last 5 seasons and has won many games single-handedly for them with his spin bowling. Last year, he picked up 12 wickets in 14 matches at an economy rate of 7.26 and was retained by the team at the end of the season.

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Edited by Sai Krishna