IPL: 5 Bowlers Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should go for in the next year's auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has been a team that have become favourites to win the IPL on many occasions. It has a lot of superstars and even beyond them, the bigger fanbase. A match in Bangalore means a stadium in red, they have an ocean of loyal supporters, winning or losing does not matter to them. We witnessed the same in the ongoing edition too which didn’t go as planned for Virat Kohli and his men yet again.

RCB did not have a good outing this season, losing in a continuous streak of six matches. After a loss in the first six, they found it very hard to enter the top four, even though they had some wins to show at the back end of the tournament. Bangalore finally ended up with 11 points which ranked them at the bottom of the points table.

Virat and Co will be looking to reinforce their squad with some good players. Their main issue for the past couple of seasons has been the bowling department, which they seriously need to take a look at.

Here we bring you the list of five bowlers who RCB should go for in the auction next year:

1. Mitchell Starc

No introduction is needed for this superstar. He is one of the best pacers around the globe. Mitchell Starc is known for his serious pace and the ability to swing the ball up front. His height also gives him a great advantage. He could not play IPL 2019 because of the World Cup preparations and more often is struggling with injuries.

Starc has previously played for the RCB and has done a pretty decent job. At the IPL, he has played 27 matches earlier and has taken 34 scalps, with the best figures of 4/15. He is a very economical bowler too, with an economy of just above seven. Starc could be a steal deal for RCB in the auction if he throws his name in the pool and even if he plays half the matches, it could be a massive bonus for them.

2. Pat Cummins

Another Australian pacer who will attract a lot of attention next year is, Pat Cummins. He can bowl at some serious pace and his short balls are also very effective. This speedster made his debut for the Aussies way back at the age of 18. He is also Australia’s vice-captain at the moment in the longest format of the game.

Cummins’ T20 record actually does show his potential. He is a much better talent than what the stats suggest. In the 16 IPL matches, the pacer has accounted for 17 wickets, with an economy of 8.29. For Australia, he has played 20 T20Is and has taken 25 wickets under an economy rate of seven, which is really commendable. RCB can have his services next year and the lanky cricketer will most likely turn their fortunes.

3. Adam Zampa

The 27-year-old leg spinner has been a vital cog in Australia’s squad. He is their limited overs specialist spinner, whereas Nathon Lyon looks after the longest format. Zampa has done considerably well for all the teams he has played so far. In IPL, he played for the Rising Pune Supergiant, where he proved his rightful value.

He was not in their starting eleven for the first couple of matches and later on, went on to play 11 matches for the now-defunct franchise. He grabbed his opportunities with both hands and was able to pick up 19 wickets for them, with an economy rate of just 7.55. Adam Zampa also took a six-wicket haul, in one of the matches, which changed the course of RPS. He was one of Pune’s key players and the main reason for them to reach till the finals.

Bowling in tandem with Yuzvendra Chahal, Zampa could play a similar role for RCB if he gets picked by the franchise in the auction next year.

4. Tushar Deshpande

This youngster surely seems to have some talent. He is a right-arm medium pace bowler and has the ability to pick up wickets whenever the team needs him to. He plays for Mumbai and made his debut, both in the Ranji Trophy as well as the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Though Tushar Deshpande is only 35 domestic matches old, the 23-year-old possesses the talent and is the one to watch out for in the future. In 15 T20s so far, he has scalped 22 wickets at a strike-rate of 13.9. His best figures of 4/19 suggest that Tushar is at his dangerous best after striking early in his spell.

5. MD Nidheesh

This 28-year-old bowler from Kerala looks like a good prospect, just like Basil Thampi, his fellow bowling partner. He bowls at a good pace and moreover, bowls brilliantly at the death overs. He was taken by Mumbai Indians at the 2018 IPL season but did not play any matches for them.

In his domestic career, he has played six T20s and has accounted for nine scalps with an economy of just seven, which is stunning for a bowler who bowls in the slog overs. MD Nidheesh has also played 18 first-class matches taking an impressive 37 wickets with only an economy 2.78. Being the unknown entity, Nidheesh could be the man to go for RCB next season.

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~Written by Jerin Varghese M