IPL 2024: Best starting playing XI of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after mini auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) failed to live up to their fans’ expectations in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and ended their journey in the round-robin stage. Under Faf du Plessis' captaincy, they concluded their campaign in the seventh spot on the IPL points table, with seven wins and seven losses.   

After the dismal 2023 campaign, Andy Flower is the head coach of the team and he has taken some stern decisions to elevate the performance of the team. In November 2023, RCB didn’t include non-performing Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Harshal Patel in their retention list. After dropping these names from the squad, Bangalore have added six players to the squad in the 2024 IPL auction. Following their buys in the auction, let’s have a look at RCB’s best XI.

Here is RCB’s best XI after the 2024 auction

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli looked stupendous with the bat in the 2023 edition of the IPL. He hit 639 runs in 14 matches and ended up as the fourth-leading run-getter in the tournament. Challengers will expect their oldest stalwart to continue his excellent form in 2024 and deliver some extraordinary innings for the team.

The 35-year-old has been a part of RCB since 2008, and in these 16 years, the Bangalore-based franchise has earned a lot of supporters riding on Kohli’s popularity. These fans are eagerly waiting for RCB to win the trophy and Kohli will look to make their dreams come true with his batting efforts in 2024. 

The batting maestro’s last tournament was the 2023 World Cup and in the marquee One-Day International (ODI) event, he became the Player of the Tournament for his exceptional batting display. He notched up 765 runs with three tons and six fifties in 11 matches and became the leading run-getter in the tournament.

Also Check: RCB Squad 2024 Player List

 2. Faf du Plessis (C)

Faf du Plessis was sensational for Bangalore in the last IPL edition. He scored 730 runs in 14 matches at a breathtaking strike rate of 153.68 and ended up as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition. Playing the entire season, the South Africa stalwart smashed eight half-centuries for the team.

However, despite his marvellous batting shows, his team failed to qualify for the playoffs. Forgetting the previous failures, the Protea veteran will endeavour to be effective in 2024 and help the team lift the trophy for the first time. 

3. Rajat Patidar

Rajat Patidar failed to mark his presence in the previous IPL edition due to a heel injury. In 2024, he will make a comeback in the RCB squad and his responsibility will be to reinforce the team while batting at number three. Along with his senior colleagues Kohli and du Plessis, he will have to play responsible innings for the team in the top order.

His current form will bring cheers to the faces of RCB supporters. In the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), he looked fine with the bat for Madhya Pradesh, smashing 174 runs in five games at an impressive strike rate of 153.98. Bangalore will heavily bank on Patidar to perform well in the IPL 2024.

4. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell is a vital part of Bangalore due to his all-round skills. In the upcoming IPL 2024, his role will be to bolster the team in all departments of the game. With the bat, the side will require ferocious knocks in the middle order while as a bowler, he will have to deliver wickets in the middle overs with his off-spin bowling.

The year 2023 was incredible for him as he was among the runs with the bat for Australia in white-ball cricket. In the 2023 World Cup, he played nine games and contributed 400 runs to his team's record-extending sixth title victory. After the stunning World Cup campaign, he took India’s bowling unit to the cleaners in a T20 International (T20I) match played in Guwahati. In the crucial game against the Men in Blue, he smashed a 47-ball hundred and guided his team to a five-wicket victory. 

5. Mahipal Lomror

Mahipal Lomror will look to be efficient for RCB in the upcoming competition. As a batter, he will have to deliver match-winning knocks to the team. In domestic cricket, he is known for his power-hitting potential but in the cash-rich league, he hasn’t proved himself yet. In the last season, he got 12 games from the RCB team management but managed to score only 135 runs in 10 innings.

Despite his ordinary performance in 2023, Challengers haven’t lost faith in the youngster and now, he has the opportunity to showcase his batting excellence and make himself an important asset in the squad. Recently, the 24-year-old looked fine for his domestic side Rajasthan in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), and noting his fine form, RCB supporters will keep their expectations high from him.

6. Dinesh Karthik (WK)

India's veteran wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik looked miserable with his bat in the 2023 season. He played 13 games in the tournament but piled up only 140 runs in 13 innings at a below-par average of 11.66. The veteran has played a lot of cricket in the international circuit and the league so these numbers do not justify his talent.

In the 2024 edition, the 38-year-old will be expected to play the role of a match-finisher in the team. Batting in the lower middle order, he is capable of taking the side home with his ferocious batting style. Back in 2022, he proved himself in the squad with his magnificent knocks.

7. Cameron Green

RCB have traded Cameron Green from Mumbai Indians (MI) to strengthen their team. The Aussie youngster might be tasked to play the role of a match-finisher along with experienced Karthik. In 2023, he delivered some extraordinary match-winning knocks for MI with his bat.

Against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), he also racked up his maiden IPL ton at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Talking about his overall batting numbers in the 2023 IPL, he scored 452 runs in 16 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 160.28. These numbers exhibit that he might become a gem for Bangalore in the upcoming tournament.

Along with the bat, he is also capable of providing wickets to the team in mid-overs. As a pacer, the 24-year-old will look to assist Mohammed Siraj, with his fast bowling. In MI colours, he picked up only six wickets in 16 matches but in the RCB squad, his endeavours will be to make a crucial contribution with the ball. 

8. Alzarri Joseph

RCB have reserved Alzarri Joseph's services for the 2024 season at a hefty sum of 11.50 crore. After picking up the Caribbean player for the massive amount, Challengers will want him to produce fire with the ball. Currently, he is in superb form in the ongoing T20I series against England.

In the five-match T20I series, he has played three games and has clinched six wickets. Considering his current form, RCB have splurged a big amount on him and now, he will be expected to do wonders with the ball in 2024. He might be seen opening the bowling innings for the team along with Siraj, who will spearhead the pace attack.

9. Karn Sharma

After parting ways with Wanindu Hasaranga, RCB might trust experienced leg-break spinner Karn Sharma to lead the spin department. The 36-year-old has vast experience in domestic cricket and he will be expected to utilise it in his team’s favour. In 2023, his performance was better than that of Hasaranga.

Playing seven contests, he took 10 wickets at an economy of 10.37. In 2024, RCB will want the veteran spinner to be more disciplined with the ball and produce match-winning spells for them. Sharma will be supported by Glenn Maxwell to strengthen the spin-bowling unit.

10. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj will get the job of fast-bowling spearhead in the upcoming tournament. As a premier pacer, his duty will be to provide early breakthroughs to the side with the ball. In 2023, he did that job efficiently. At a time, when Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood were lacking rhythm, he was the one who performed finely.

Playing 14 matches in the season, he got 19 wickets at an economy of 7.50 and ended up as the team’s leading wicket-taker. In 2024, he will be expected to continue his brilliant form and come heavily on batters with the ball. Talking about his current form, the 29-year-old is doing a magnificent job in Indian colours. 

11. Vijaykumar Vyshak 

Vijaykumar Vyshak made his IPL debut in the last season but failed to leave an impact with the ball. He scalped nine wickets in seven games but at a horrendous economy of 10.54. However, RCB overlooked his ordinary performance and included him in their retention list. 

In the 2024 edition, he will have to be solid with the ball for Challengers. Playing the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy recently, he clinched 15 wickets for Karnataka in eight games. The 26-year-old will be tasked to support Siraj, Green, and Joseph to vitalise Bangalore’s fast-bowling unit.