IPL 2023: Predicting where each team will end up on the points table

6. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore had a great showing in the previous edition and made it through to the second qualifier of the marquee tournament. In the build-up to the 16th IPL edition, they have made minimal changes to their squad and backed most players to come good in the coming season. However, RCB might struggle to qualify for the playoffs this time around.

Dinesh Karthik batted like a dream in the 2022 edition and finished games for the side to perfection. However, he has not played any competitive cricket since November. Also, the swashbuckling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has lacked game time and has not played much since the T20 World Cup 2022. The two batters are crucial to Bangalore’s chances, but they might struggle to get into the groove in the coming season.

On the bowling front, Harshal Patel has been a pale shadow of his classic self post-IPL 2022, and as a result, he lost his place in the Indian T20I side. Also, RCB’s leader of the pace attack Josh Hazlewood has been out of action due to an Achilles injury since January, and his bowling form in the coming edition of the T20 carnival could be in question. Thus, with concerns over the form of their several vital players, RCB could find it tough to thrive in the lucrative T20 tournament.