IPL Auction 2019: Team-wise analysis of likely strategies and potential buys

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Will RCB finally succeed in their search for the perfect balance?

Retained: Virat Kohli [c], AB de Villiers*, Parthiv Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Nathan Coulter-Nile*, Moeen Ali*, Mohammed Siraj, Colin de Grandhomme*, Tim Southee*, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kulwant Khejroliya

Traded In: Marcus Stoinis* (from KXIP)

Released: Brendon McCullum, Corey Anderson, Chris Woakes, Sarfaraz Khan

Traded Out: Mandeep Singh (to KXIP); Quinton de Kock (to MI)

Available Auction Purse: INR 18.15 crore

Available Slots: 10 (Indian 8; Overseas 2)

Auction Strategy:

At the conclusion of the 2018 auction, RCB's squad had a noticeable fall in the glamour quotient with an increased focus on the balance of the team. Unfortunately, it turned out to be yet another year where they were left ruing missed opportunities as they squandered winning positions and failed to deliver as a unit. Their strike bowler, Nathan Coulter-Nile being ruled out of the season did not help their case either.

Amidst the disappointment, the likes of Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali and Pawan Negi enjoyed a decent season last year and in Marcus Stoinis, they have acquired a world-class all-rounder from KXIP. Their focus would, therefore, be on recruiting dependable middle-order batsmen to support Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, a job Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan failed at. Having let go of Quinton de Kock, RCB are one team expected to go for an explosive wicketkeeper-batsman as well.

Potential Acquisitions: Shimron Hetmyer, Mohammad Shahzad, Andre Fletcher, Hanuma Vihari, Manoj Tiwary, Saurabh Tiwary, Gurkeerat Singh, Wriddhiman Saha, Jalaj Saxena, Sam Curran, Colin Ingram, Varun Chakravarthy.

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