Where did RCB finish the previous season?
Royal Challengers Bangalore finished fourth in the league stage with eight wins and six defeats, qualifying for the playoffs for the third year in a row. In the Eliminator, they defeated debutants Lucknow Super Giants thanks to a century by Rajat Patidar, the fastest by an Indian in IPL history. However, a berth in the final was not to be, as they were defeated in Qualifier 2 by eventual runners-up Rajasthan Royals. Their search for their first IPL title continues.
What is new at RCB this year?
They signed left-arm seamer Reece Topley as a backup for Hazlewood, as well as Jammu and Kashmir’s Avinash Singh, a tearaway quick who can bowl over 150kph. However, the majority of the squad and coaching staff are the same.
The positives include Glenn Maxwell’s return and Virat Kohli’s form.
After Maxwell fractured his leg in a horrific accident in November, RCB went to the auction in search of allrounders. Even as late as February, there was some concern, but Maxwell has since returned to competitive cricket and is ready to begin.
Virat Kohli’s comeback to form is obviously a huge relief for RCB. Between the last IPL and now, he snapped a 1000-day drought of hundreds with a T20I century against Afghanistan in September. He recently scored his first Test century since 2019 during the Ahmedabad Test against Australia.
Who comes after Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj?
Aside from Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj, their Indian pace reserves are depleted. If Hazlewood isn’t a guaranteed starter, Reece Topley or one of their uncapped picks will have to step up.
Insights into the schedule
With six of their seven home games planned for April due to Karnataka elections in May, RCB cannot rely on home advantage during the business part of the season, when clubs aim to consolidate their standing.
It’s another obstacle for RCB to face if they want to break their streak of finishing last in the league. They lost four straight games leading up to the playoffs in 2020. In 2021, they started the second half with two straight losses before huffing and puffing their way into the playoffs. In 2022, they only won three of seven games in the second half. What will happen in 2023?
