Royal Challengers Bangalore IPL 2023 Preview

Despite finishing in the playoffs in the last three seasons, the Royal Challengers Bangalore have been unable to find the winning formula to go the full distance in the Indian Premier League. RCB finished fourth in the table and edged out the Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator last season but were eventually outmatched by Jos Buttler and the Rajasthan Royals in the second qualifier.

While RCB could be buoyed by their return to the Chinnaswamy in 2023, their homecoming could work against them this season due to their poor record in Bangalore in the IPL, with a win rate of just 48.05% at home.

Player to watch out for: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli had a season to forget with RCB in IPL 2022, averaging just 22.7 at a strike rate of 116 in 16 innings. However, the opener has enjoyed a revival in the shortest format, scoring a century against Afghanistan at the Asia Cup and lighting up the T20 World Cup in Australia. Kohli has also shown some signs of improvement against spin in the shortest format, but the RCB veteran will need to deliver another vintage season with the bat if the team wish to go all the way and break their trophy drought.

Strengths

RCB’s bowling might lifted them to a playoff spot and a third-place finish in the IPL last season, and Faf du Plessis’ side have retained most of that threat in 2023. RCB’s pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel is one of the most complete in the competition, while Faf du Plessis has a variety of spinners to choose from in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Glenn Maxwell.

RCB’s batting depth also elevates their ceiling as a team, with the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel able to hold their own with the bat coming in at numbers eight and nine.

Weaknesses

Injuries and availability could hamper the first half of the season for RCB, with Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood likely to be unavailable for the first few weeks. Although Hazlewood’s absence can be compensated by the left-arm pace of Reece Topley, Bangalore could struggle at the top of the order without Rajat Patidar.

Patidar played a key role for RCB in 2022, scoring 333 runs at a strike rate of 152, and his absence could force the team to shuffle up their batting order with Virat Kohli moving down to number three and Anuj Rawat potentially opening the innings.

Probable Playing XI

Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood/Reece Topley