IPL 2020: Three players RCB will target in the upcoming IPL Auction

Of all the teams in the Indian Premier League, no team generates as much buzz and intrigue as the Royal Challengers Bangalore. With every passing year comes a fearsome-looking squad and a lot of hope before the auction, and as the tournament progresses, inevitably, comes a sense of disappointment.

The Bangalore based franchise again look like they are on the cusp of a rejig, going into the December auction with a purse of Rs. 27.90 Crore as well as the maximum number of slots available among all the teams (12 total, 6 foreign). Having released some big names like Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, and Dale Steyn, they will be looking to strengthen their squad adequately. Keeping that in mind, here are 3 players that RCB might go for in the IPL auction:

1. Tom Banton

Tom Banton

While the emergence of Devdutt Padikkal has given RCB a good alternative in the opening position with Parthiv Patel, RCB seem to be woefully short in the top order. With Virat Kohli, Shimron Hetmyer and Moeen Ali having to play out of position to partner up with Patel last season, RCB will be desperate to reinforce at the top.

The name that will be at the top of their list will be British sensation, Tom Banton. The Somerset-based cricketer scored 549 runs in the Vitality T20 Blast this year at an average of 42.23 and a blistering strike-rate of 161.47. He has also been exceptional in the recently concluded T10 League, the highlight of which was orchestrating an impressive knock of 80 runs in just 28 balls at a mind-boggling strike-rate of 285.71.

With Mike Hesson and Virat Kohli renowned to back young talent, expect RCB to bid heavily for him.

2. Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan

After their opening pair and Virat Kohli coming in at 3, RCB will most likely look to play AB De Villiers, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar 4-7, with only Gurkeerat Mann and Pawan Negi as cover, both of whom bat at 6 and 7 respectively. Thus, RCB will look at getting a middle-order batsman who can bat at positions 4 or 5.

The Irish-born English Captain is in the form of his life with the bat. Having led his team to victory in the 50-over World Cup, he has also struck a rich vein of form in the shortest format of the game, scoring 268 runs in 9 games at an average of 44.66. He's also scored 175 runs in 6 innings at the recently concluded T10 league, averaging 43.75 whilst striking the ball at 186.17. The Bangalore based franchise would also value his leadership skills, with the current team comprising of several youngsters like Padikkal, Dube, Sundar and Negi who would gain immensely from his guidance.

3. Chris Jordan:

Chris Jordan

Upon the acquisition of an opener and a middle-order batsman, the main chink in Bangalore will have to be addressed; namely, the lack of a good death bowler. Bangalore's bowling attack currently comprises Yuzuvendra Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, and Mohammed Siraj; 3 of whom will be played by Bangalore in all likelihood.

The 4 of them, combined with Sundar, Dube, and Ali give them plenty of options for bowling. None of these players, bar Saini, can bowl all too well in the death. This has been an issue for RCB for a couple of years now, and Hesson and his think tank will definitely look to address it.

The ideal candidate for the Bangalore based franchise will be Chris Jordan. The Barbados-born British cricketer has had a fantastic 2019, taking 14 wickets in 8 games at an average of 12.85 and an economy of 7.55, fantastic figures for any T20 bowler, let alone one who bowls in the death. He's also been prolific in the T10 league, and with Starc ruling himself out of the auction, will definitely be the bowler the Bangalore based franchise go for.