IPL 2022: Best starting playing XI of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) after mega auction

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have made some promising buys at the IPL 2022 mega auction for rebuilding their team as their quest for a maiden title continues. While they released the likes of promising batter Devdutt Padikkal and wrist-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, they made some new additions by welcoming Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, veteran South African batter Faf du Plessis, Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, Windies sensation Sherfane Rutherford to name a few.

In November last year, RCB had retained former skipper Virat Kohli for INR 15 crore, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell as well as Test specialist Mohammed Siraj for INR 11 and 7 crores respectively for the upcoming season and had gone into the IPL 2022 mega auction with a purse of INR 57 crore.

Meanwhile, the three-time finalists are yet to name their skipper. As Bangalore look to make the 15th edition of the cash-rich tournament memorable,  here’s what their starting XI could be this time around.

RCB’s predicted starting XI for IPL 2022

1. Faf du Plessis (C)

The former South African skipper is the team’s new recruit and his experience will be very handy for them this year. He has been roped in for INR 7 crore. Faf du Plessis has so far played 100 IPL matches and amassed 2935 runs averaging 34.94 and at a strike rate of 131.08. His best performance came in 2021 when he scored 633 runs from 16 matches and was instrumental in CSK’s fourth IPL triumph.

In fact, the Pretoria cricketer has been a part of Chennai Super Kings’ three IPL wins in 2011, 2018, and 2021 and has all the credentials of being a big match player for them should the team make it to the knockouts this time around.

Therefore, the three-time runners-up would be having a lot of expectations from the elegant batter as he dons the Bangalore jersey for the very first time. In fact, he could be their captain as well if given a choice.

2. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli needs no introduction. Apart from having shattered several batting records at the international level, Kohli is also one of the most accomplished batters in the IPL. The ex- India skipper is currently the top-scorer in the history of the tournament having amassed 6283 runs from 207 games averaging 37.39 at a strike rate of 129.94 including five centuries and 42 half-centuries.

The batting megastar also holds the record of having scored the most runs in a single edition. He amassed 973 runs in the 2016 edition and was adjudged the Orange Cap winner. The team had made the finals as well only to lose to the southern rivals Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The 33-year-old relinquished captaincy after last season and the franchise would be hoping that he rediscovers his mojo on the 22 yards as they look to start afresh after having rebuilt their squad.

3. Shahbaz Ahamad

Shahbaz Ahamad has been roped in by Bangalore for INR 2.40 crore. This is the third time that the Royal Challengers Bangalore have shown faith in him and he would be hoping to live up to the franchise’s expectations. Ahamad was first bought by RCB in IPL 2020 for INR 20 lakh where he finished with two wickets from as many matches at an economy rate of 7.33.

Bangalore went on to retain him for the 2021 season as well where he registered seven scalps from 11 outings. Shahbaz Ahmed registered a hat-trick against Hyderabad in the 2019-20 edition of the Ranji Trophy and became the seventh player from Bengal to achieve this feat.

The promising all-rounder would once again be obliged to prove his mettle for the team as they eye a maiden IPL crown.

4. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell was RCB’s star performer with the bat last season which made him one of their retentions for IPL 2022. The Australian power-hitter was roped in by Bangalore for INR 14.25 crore and he obliged by amassing 513 runs from 15 matches averaging 42.75 and a strike rate of 144.10.

The star all-rounder was retained by the Bengaluru-based franchise for INR 11 crore to feature in the 2022 season and he would also be riding high on confidence as he was one of Australia’s key members in their maiden T20 World Cup triumph last year.

RCB would now be hoping that their key all-rounder makes the bat do the talking once again and make an impact with the ball in hand as well.

5. Dinesh Karthik (WK)

Dinesh Karthik has once again come back to RCB. Bangalore bought him after an intense bidding war with CSK at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He is also one of the seasoned players of the tournament having represented six franchises so far. This is Karthik’s first appearance for Bengaluru after the 2015 season where they had made the playoffs losing to Chennai in Qualifier 2.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer was released by the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders. He had represented KKR for four seasons from 2018 and had also led them in the first two of them. It now remains to be seen whether he would be Virat Kohli’s successor.

The cricketer-turned-part-time broadcaster would be expected to fire on all cylinders in the middle-order, especially at the death overs and also don the gloves for them this time around.

6. Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga was bought by RCB for a sum of INR 10.75 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction. The Sri Lankan all-rounder had registered a hat-trick at the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 against Sri Lanka and was also the leading wicket-taker of the tournament with 16 scalps from eight matches at 5.20.

The star spinner’s base price was just INR 1 crore coming into the action but, he ended up earning a lot more than that. The smart leggie has the ability to bowl googlies at will and is used in the middle overs by Sri Lanka.

Bangalore would be hoping to give him as many games as they can as they look forward to making the most of his services in the 15th edition of the showpiece tournament.

7. Mahipal Lomror

Mahipal Lomror has been roped in for INR 95 lakh during the IPL 2022 mega auction. The Nagaur cricketer was released by the inaugural edition winners Rajasthan Royals whom he had represented for four seasons from 2018.

In the 11 matches that he has played since the 2018 edition, Lomror has managed 181 runs and a solitary scalp. The youngster had grabbed headlines in the 2017/18 Ranji Trophy season where he became the joint-leading wicket-taker for Rajasthan with 13 dismissals in six matches.

Lomror would be expected to make immense contributions with both bat and the ball for the franchise this season. It also remains to be seen if he gets ample opportunities in the upcoming season.

8. Harshal Patel

Despite being released by the Royal Challengers Bangalore last November, Harshal Patel came back where he belonged at the IPL 2022 mega auction. He was bought for a sum of INR 10.75 crore. RCB overcame stiff competition from CSK and SRH to bring Patel on board.

The medium-pacer is the Purple Cap holder having finished last season with 32 scalps to his name which is the joint-highest in a single edition of the tournament. CSK all-rounder Dwayne Bravo had also picked up 32 wickets in the 2013 season.

The 31-year-old would be expected to showcase the 2021 season’s heroics as RCB are on a mission to win their maiden IPL title this time around.

9. Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma has been bought by RCB for INR 50 lakh. Even his experience of having played for so many teams especially in multiple finals will certainly do a world of good for the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they look to make the most of his abilities.

The leggie has represented the likes of Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the Chennai Super Kings. In fact, he had also played for the Bengaluru-based franchise in the 2009 season. The 34-year-old also has been a part of three IPL winning teams.

RCB would be hoping that he and Wanindu Hasaranga would work in tandem and fill in Washington Sundar and Yuzvendra Chahal’s void this year.

10. Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood has been bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 7.75 crore. Bangalore outclassed Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, and the Delhi Capitals to buy the Aussie pacer.

Hazlewood who has showcased his potential for Australia across formats had represented CSK in IPL 2021 and picked 12 wickets in 12 games. He was also a key member of Australia’s maiden T20 World Cup triumph in November last year.

With an IPL and T20 World Cup titles to his resume, Josh would be expected to boss the batters with the new ball in hand in the upcoming season.

11. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj was one of  RCB’s three retained players for this season.  The promising seamer has been an integral part of Bangalore since 2018 and the franchise has not even bothered to look behind after having him on board. Siraj has so far picked up 50 wickets from as many games ever since his debut in 2016.

The 27-year-old was one of the team’s most impactful performers having registered 11 wickets from 15 matches as the Royal Challengers Bangalore made back-to-back playoff appearances. They were knocked out in the Eliminator by the eventual runners-up Kolkata Knight Riders.

The three-time runners-up would once again be banking on the Hyderabad speedster to provide breakthroughs at regular intervals especially with the new ball in hand.