IPL 2018: 3 players Royal Challengers Bangalore should have bought via RTM instead of Pawan Negi

This was another sorrowful season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who failed to create any considerable impact once again. They came agonizingly close to qualifying for the playoffs, but their impressive late resurgence was stumbled in the final group games, teams with equal points but better Net Run Rate eventually put their qualification hopes to bed.

So what has gone wrong for the RCB this season? They have two of the greatest cricketers of all time perhaps, in Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Touted as one of the canniest customers in the contemporary world, Tim Southee’s addition should’ve strengthened their side, which didn’t happen. They had some brilliant local names as well.

As it turned out, most of the players who they were vouching for were in the middle of a lean patch, which eventually crumbled the side as well. The management used an RTM (Right-To-Match) card for Pawan Negi, who eventually ended up playing just two matches. It clearly was not a great choice especially using RTM on him. Here are three players who should’ve been retained instead using the RTM.

1. KL Rahul

Hands down this was his best performance in an IPL season. If only he had more support from his batting companions, this could’ve been a monumental season for KL Rahul. He ended up scoring over 600 runs for the Kings XI Punjab and almost single-handedly took them to the playoffs.

RCB’s heavy reliance on ABD and Kohli to get the runs was certainly palpable. Having a player of his calibre would definitely have strengthened their side, but he went for a whopping Rs. 11 crore to the KXIP franchise and that must’ve driven the RCB management away from him.

Rahul really could’ve been a sensational addition to the Royal Challengers, but he wouldn’t be unhappy about changing jerseys. Joining Virender Sehwag at the KXIP camp helped him escalate his game as an opener. He even smacked the fastest 50 in IPL history, which must’ve been a dagger in the hearts of RCB fans.