Royal Challengers Bangalore started their Indian Premier League 2023 campaign with a bang. First, they were back at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium after three years, and second, they dominantly defeated arch-rival Mumbai Indians. Batting first, MI scored 171 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs with the help of a brilliant knock from Tilak Varma. The duo of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis added 148 runs for the first wicket, the highest opening partnership for RCB against MI. Both batters scored at a strike rate of more than 165. Kohli remained undefeated on 82 runs off 49 deliveries, and RCB chased down the target of 172 runs in 16.2 overs with eight wickets in hand.
RCB Team Setup in IPL 2023
In the first game against Mumbai Indians, RCB went in with Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, and Reece Topley as their four overseas players. This will likely be the best option that RCB has right now due to the unavailability of Wanindu Hasaranga. Faf du Plessis, along with Virat Kohli, can provide flying starts to the team. At number three, RCB can try Mahipal Lomror, as this will give them a left-handed batter in top order.
At number four, five, and six, Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik, and Bracewell, respectively, will work like magic for the team. Maxwell can play the role of an anchor, while Karthik and Bracewell can finish the games for the team. Shahbaz Ahmed and Harshal Patel can also swing the bat when required and will be a great option in the lower-middle order. Mohammad Siraj, Reece Topley, and Akash Deep can complement each other with their pace bowling, and Karn Sharma’s experience will come in handy when the team plays on spin-friendly tracks.
Rajat Patidar, the centurion from last season’s eliminator, has been ruled out of the tournament, and this will be a major blow for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. But this can open the door for other Indian players to showcase their talent. RCB can give opportunities to Lomror, Suyash Prabhudessai, and Anuj Rawat to play in the number three place, which is now vacant due to the absence of Patidar. Manoj Bhandage, the 24-year-old all-rounder, who had a decent outing with both bat and ball in the Maharaja T20 Trophy last year, can also be tried in the number three place.
Once Hasaranga is available for selection, RCB can use him or Bracewell as an impact player. This way, they can use the bowling of Hasaranga and the batting of Bracewell at the same time. Finn Allen and David Willey can be used further in the tournament to give players like Maxwell and Topley rest. Siddarth Kaul picked 19 wickets in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was the leading wicket-taker. RCB can use his form and experience when they play at grounds where pacers might get more help than the spinners.
Josh Hazlewood is expected to miss at least the first seven games for RCB this season. He was one of the top bowlers for the team last season and picked 20 wickets at an average of 18.85. The number four bowler in the ICC rankings suffered Achilles tendonitis last year and missed the Test series against India. Once he is back, his presence will surely bolster the team’s bowling attack.
Important Upcoming Encounters for RCB
RCB will play their next game against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday (April 6) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They have won three of the last five games at this venue and will look to continue their dominance. Virat Kohli last scored a century in IPL at Eden Gardens only, and he has a chance to repeat his heroics in the upcoming game.
RCB will play five of their next six games at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium and will look to dominate the opponents. They have already won their first game at the home ground and have an opportunity to win each game here this season.
Can RCB Win IPL 2023?
The Royal Challengers Bangalore are known for their batting prowess in the tournament. Over the years, the RCB batters have dominated the leagues with their run-scoring abilities, and the prime example of this is Virat Kohli, the leading run-scorer in the tournament. It is a known fact that RCB have suffered due to their below-par bowling attack on numerous occasions in the past. Compared to other teams, their pace bowling attack was never up to the mark until the last few seasons.
RCB have qualified for the playoffs in the last three seasons and displayed some great bowling performance. This year, they have a solid Indian bowling attack. In the spin department, they have Wanindu Hasaranga and Karn Sharma. Reece Topley, Josh Hazlewood, and David Willey are a great combination of the overseas bowling unit. Overall, RCB have managed to solve their bowling woes this season, and hence, they have a great opportunity to lift the trophy in IPL 2023.
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