After multiple unsuccessful campaigns, RCB will hope this is the year where they finally lift the Premier League trophy. Virat Kohli & company will be aiming for the coveted crown again during the UAE leg of the tournament.
The RCB have been on an upward curve since the last season when they reached the playoffs. They are currently third in the IPL 2021 points table with five wins and only two losses from their seven matches. Their win-loss ratio is identical to the second-placed Chennai Super Kings, but they fall short on the net run-rate (-0.171 to +1.263).
Kohli will be mighty pleased with his team’s efforts so far in the tournament this year, especially with the knowledge that none of their games have been played at their home base – the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.
In a tournament following the caravan system, all teams played their matches at neutral venues during the Indian leg. RCB played three matches in Chennai, two in Mumbai and two in Ahmedabad. Out of these, only Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium – with its short boundary dimensions and a flat pitch – can be considered a ground somewhat similar in nature to the playing surface of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Yet, RCB coped well and clinched five victories from their seven matches.
Australian maverick Glenn Maxwell, whom RCB recruited ahead of this season, has shed the tendency to be inconsistent and is right now his team’s highest run-getter in the competition with 223 runs at an average of 37.16 and strike-rate of 144.80. Maxwell has already had an impact on multiple of RCB’s wins this year.
In the runs-chart, he is followed by greats AB de Villiers (207), Kohli (198) and young left-hand opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal (195).
Bowling is still a bit of a worry for RCB. Pacer Harshal Patel is the top-wicket for them with 17 scalps, but he has been very expensive, conceding runs at 9.17 per over. And while Shahbaz Ahmed has been his team’s most miserly bowler (economy rate of only 6.40) among those with a minimum of four games, he hasn’t been as active in the wickets column.
Prediction
5-2 from 7 matches is a decent win-loss record to have by the halfway mark in a tournament such as the IPL. It keeps RCB within touching distance of securing another playoff berth in the Middle East.
Their next seven matches are quite evenly spread across Abu Dhabi (3), Dubai (2) and Sharjah (2). The team will resume the campaign on September 20 in Abu Dhabi against two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
RCB have also announced a few impressive replacement signings in recent times, with the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, George Garton and Tim David coming in for Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson and Finn Allen.
These changes will certainly bolster the side, giving more depth to the squad and stronger options for Kohli and the management to choose from.
There has been one other big change for RCB as their head coach Simon Katich has resigned from his post and is replaced by Mike Hesson, who will now double up as a coach and franchise’s director of cricket.
As far as predictions go, RCB are one of the frontrunners to make the playoffs this season and could also go all the way for the very first time, especially if they can continue to manage their bowling resources well. Kohli and the team could finally have their dream fulfilled this winter.
