IPL 2019 – Match 1: Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore – RCB Predicted Playing XI

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will enter into another ambitious Indian Premier League (IPL) season in an attempt to get their hands on the silverware. To start the season off, they will be facing the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. RCB havent’t won a single game against CSK since 2014. The side has played seven games in Chennai thus far and won only one match.

Thus, all the odds are against them. The bowling still seems to be a weak forte for the Bangalore franchise. But they’ve got many match-winners on their side. These players can with the team a match single-handedly on their day. Heading into the opening game, RCB will miss the services of some of its gun players. Yet, they’ve got almost like-for-like replacements and it shouldn’t be a huge issue for them.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB):

Openers (Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel (wk))

RCB has got an option to open the innings with Virat Kohli. But, Moeen Ali and Parthiv Patel at the top could add more balance to the side. Both of them aren’t powerful hitters of the ball and rely a lot on their timing. Thus, with the field restrictions on, they could be making the most of the opportunity.

Even if one of them fails, Virat Kohli is there for the back-up and this adds more stability. Once Marcus Stoinis comes back, it will be easier for the management also to make a switch. Parthiv gives the team good starts more often than not and will also don the gloves. Moeen Ali’s services with the ball will also come in handy.

Middle-Order (Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Shimron Hetmyer)

RCB is usually a top-heavy team. But they have picked a few players this year who could balance it out in the middle-order. Virat Kohli is in the form of his life and no one seems to hit the ball better than him at the moment. His role at number three will be critical for the team.

AB de Villiers, in all probability, will bat at number four. Mr. 360 has been the face of the RCB team for several years now and will continue to be. Now that he is retired, he doesn’t have anything that should possibly hold him back and could go all guns out. Shimron Hetmyer is a terrific addition to this line-up. He can score some quick runs in the middle-overs and push the score further out of the reach of the opposition.

All Rounders (Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar)

Shivam Dube is one of the domestic finds who will be tested this season. He is someone who is similar to Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He can hit the big sixers right from ball one and will take up the role of the finisher in the side. He also chips in with a few overs when required.

Washington Sundar is one of the curious cases in the RCB line-up. He had a good start when he was with the RPS but faded away last season. The bowling all-rounder has to prove his potential this season. He adds depth to this batting order and is capable of scoring some quick runs.

Bowlers (Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammad Siraj)

There are quite a few questions about the participation of Tim Southee in the tournament opener. The New Zealand cricketers will fly to India only on the 22nd after the New Zealand Cricket Awards. Thus, the pacer could be jet-lagged. But RCB doesn’t have any other overseas option at this point in time. Hence, he will have to play at all costs.

Southee will share the pace bowling duties with Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Siraj. Yadav is great with the new ball and could bowl three overs straight in the powerplay. The issue for RCB here is that they do not have many capable death bowlers. Mohammad Siraj is likely to bowl in the middle overs. Yuzvendra Chahal will handle the spin bowling responsibilities along with Sundar and Moeen.

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