How Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Can Secure Victory in IPL 2022

As the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) eyes another title in IPL 2022, the team needs to focus on both key changes and long-term strategies to secure victory. While selecting a captain is the immediate priority, the team must also improve its bowling and batting depth to stay competitive in the tournament.

Captain Selection

The question of RCB’s captaincy needs urgent resolution. With Virat Kohli having served as the team's skipper for a long time and achieving no significant wins, there is a need to consider potential alternates. Three promising players to take over the captaincy are:

Glenn Maxwell - Former captain of Punjab Kings, Maxwell has the experience as a batting all-rounder, but will miss initial games due to his wedding. Dinesh Karthik - An experienced Indian player who led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for two seasons, Karthik is a strategic player and could fill in for Kohli. However, it’s uncertain whether he could be persuaded to take on the captaincy. Faf du Plessis - A strong opening batsman, with two IPL wins under his belt, Du Plessis is a more solid pick for the captaincy, given his earning capability and leadership experience.

Just changing the captain isn’t enough. The team must work on its game strategies, particularly in the death overs.

Consistency and Depth

RCB has managed to qualify for the playoffs in 2020 and 2021, largely due to the impressive performance of its bowlers like Siraj, Harshal, and Chahal. These bowlers excelled in the death overs, filling the gap left by Chris Morris.

However, improvement in batting depth is needed. Current top five batsmen, including Kohli and De Villiers, are crucial, but RCB chokes once they fall. Kyle Jamieson and Harshal have contributed, but it wasn’t enough. RCB qualified because Srikar Bharat brought solving the middle-order problem when De Villiers was struggling.

Updated Squad Analysis

Opening Slot Options:

Warner - Experienced opener who can also solve the captaincy issue for RCB. His performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) could be motivating. The other options include Devdutt, Guptill, and Bairstow, with Warner being the first choice due to his strong bowling and batting skills.

Middle Order:

Pick Buttler for his dual abilities as a batsman and wicket-keeper. He can fill De Villiers' shoes efficiently. The Indian options can be Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, or Srikar Bharat (WK).

Lower Order Batsman:

Hardik Pandya - A strong option as a batsman who can also bowl like a fast medium-pace bowler. Shardul Tunzi - Another strong option with significant striking power. Other options include Dev Conway and Rassie van der Dussen.

Bowling Unit:

Siraj - An established player for RCB, invaluable in the death overs. The need to bring back Harshal as a versatile option who can bat as well. For pace, Harshal is the top choice. Chahal or Rashid - Important bowling options but may require high bids. The Indian options can be Shahbaaz, Washington, and Zampa or Ish Sodhi for spin.

RCB needs to work on its strategies and bring in the right players strategically. By focusing on these areas, RCB can secure a strong position in the 2022 IPL tournament.