IPL: 5 Youngsters RCB should target in 2022 mega auction

In the IPL 2021 so far, each team has completed their first three games and on a rare occasion, the RCB franchise has placed themselves at the top of the table with three outstanding triumphs. The expensive bagging of Glenn Maxwell has turned out to be a massive masterstroke, who along with AB de Villiers has been going bonkers in the batting lineup. At present, the IPL 2021 seems to be a merry event for the red army and with each passing game, the fortitude to lift an elusive IPL glory looks to be in the making.

But as we all know that since 2013, the franchise has been heavily pillared on skipper Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers which has always refrained them to build a strong Indian core. Especially in the batting department, there have hardly been some exuberant Indian batters who apart from Devdutt Padikkal, have manufactured crucial runs just like Virat Kohli and ABD. Some inferiority in Yuzi Chahal and Navdeep Saini’s bowling might also become a concerning cause, as these two stalwarts, especially Yuzvendra Chahal is a vital cog in RCB’s bowling lineup.

Hence, with the 15th edition of the IPL happening on a mega auction, the RCB think tank can bag some alluring young proponents which can resolve their above concerns. Therefore, here’s a list of-

5 youngsters RCB should target for 2022 IPL Mega auction

1. Ishan Kishan

The transformation of Ishan Kishan in MI’s camp has been revolutionary for the franchise as this swashbuckling batsman now serves as a vital cog in MI’s daunting batting line-up. In the IPL 2020, despite not playing some initial games, Ishan Kishan was MI’s highest runs-scorer, wherein he scored 516 runs at a healthy average of 57.33. His latter IPL success then fetched him an entry in the Indian team and maybe has bagged a ticket for 2021 World T20.

With the RCB franchise struggling to have a strong Indian batsman who can don the wicket-keeping gloves and can place himself anywhere in the top four, there’s no better proposition available than Ishan Kishan. Ishan’s wicket-keeping skills can, first of all, bring a big relief for aging AB de Villers and with his batting being highly attacking, the entire proposition seems to be the fitting one for RCB.

With players like Padikkal and skipper Virat Kohli opening the innings, Ishan Kishan can easily lay himself at no three thus overall making RCB’s batting much more lethal and balanced. Gone are the days when Ishan Kishan was just a reckless swashbuckling batter, as the 2020 IPL season was the best example of his reliable run-scoring.

All in all, Ishan Kishan’s overall gameplay can get in sync with RCB’s overall brand of play, thus, also serving as a massive aid for players like Virat Kohli and ABD to go freely about their business. Hence, the RCB franchise should target this Indian dynamite who can become a massive cog in their eventful batting lineup.

2. Riyan Parag

While Riyan Parag’s batting is still a work-in-progress proposition but there have been enough glimpses where his temperament has exhibited his ability to become a highly praised middle-order batsman. Riyan’s batting, in general, allows him to become a floater in any situation and he can place himself anywhere in the middle-order. His gameplay allows him to play all kinds of shots especially with pull shot being his key strength.

With keeping the dynamics of a mega auction in mind, someone like a Riyan Parag can be easily fetched by the RCB franchise who then can help to resolve their lower-order batting conundrums. Being an uncapped player also makes the equation easier from a buying perspective for RCB, as Riyan Parag can be bagged at a reasonable price. Riyan’s overall proposition, in particular, can suit RCB’s needs, as his batting can either be used for lower-middle order business or as a floater who also can go early to steady the ship. 

Also, sharing the dressing room with the likes of Virat Kohli and ABD can massively help Riyan Parag to improve his work-in-progress batting which eventually might filter out his awful shot selection. Hence, with Parag also giving an option of leg-spin bowling, the RCB management should keep a close eye on this promising youngster.

3. Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh, right from his team’s U-19 World Cup triumph in 2018 has been impressively climbing up the ranks and at present serves PBKS with his left-arm proposition. A left-arm pacer, who can bowl quality yorkers in the death overs, has made him become a regular member of PBKS’s playing XI who often just like RCB faces an ordeal in the most crucial phase of the game.

With the RCB camp failing to have a quality left-arm pacer, someone like Arshdeep Singh can fill this void eventually giving the team an extra variety. Bagging him up in the mega auction might mean an additional strain on their wallet, all because of the left-arm pacer being an undersupplied exponent, but his death bowling skills can aid RCB to further strengthen their underlying problem.

Currently, someone like Harshal Patel has been performing exceeding well at the death for RCB and by chance even if Harshal Patel gets re-bagged then, the red army will have plenty to combat against their biggest fragility. All in all, a left-arm proposition that can bowl remarkably at the death in itself is a very limited package, and with Arshdeep Singh constantly climbing up the ladder, the youngster can effectively serve the RCB team for a prolonged time.

4. Lungi Ngidi

Lungi Ngidi along with Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje currently forms the crux of South Africa’s pace bowling attack. His bowling proposition which flexes his skills to scalp some quick wickets at the top along with his ability to close games at the death makes him a highly alluring candidate for this format.

A team like RCB who has faced a history of getting condemned for their fitful overseas seamer choices can bag someone like a Lungi Ngidi, who in particular should be able to reap high rewards for the franchise. Because RCB has mainly lacked a proper seamer, who can scalp quick wickets at the top by moving the ball, along with someone who can control the last phase of the game, Lungi Ngidi’s proposition should allow the franchise to finally settle out for their dual needs. Apart from these skills, Ngidi is also a genuine wicket-taking pacer, who often can scalp some game-changing breakthroughs.

At present, Ngidi has only played 12 IPL games and has significantly scalped 23 wickets under his name that too at an economy of 7.63. All in all, bagging Lungi Ngidi as their premier bowler will enormously strengthen their bowling but the speedster will demand big bucks at the auction table.

5. Shahrukh Khan

With Shahrukh Khan all set to complete his first IPL season with the PBKS team, the cricketer might again enjoy a massive demand for himself in the next auction, all because of his ability to tonk the ball out of the park. Players like Shahrukh Khan, who merely perform the roles of firepower and big-hitting in the lower-middle order are very limited proponents available which often propel IPL teams to bag them even if it’s about receiving some additional bolstering.

Since RCB has always played with some compromising batters in their lower-middle order, someone like a Shahrukh Khan can become an exciting option to try out especially in their home conditions. With Shahrukh’s addition, RCB’s batting will further become much more eventful, as players like AB de Villiers will receive an extra leeway to flex their muscles. Also, apart from whacking the ball hard, Shahrukh had recently shown some temperament against CSK by playing a sensible knock of 47 in a dreadful situation.

All in all, with Shahrukh Khan all set to play an important role in PBKS’s camp for IPL 2021, the cricketer might attract some interest from the RCB camp in the next auction.