Every year, the Challengers boast of a squad that can beat any opponent in the world, yet, they come up short every time.
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For as long as the Indian Premier League (IPL) started, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have been the perennial underachievers. Every year, they boast a squad that can beat any opponent in the world, yet, they come up short every time. They reached the finals on three different occasions, 2009, 2011 and 2016, yet they have never successfully managed to go that extra mile and get their hands on the trophy. On paper, this year is no different as they have assembled an exceptional squad which could be one of the most well-balanced in the whole league.
One thing they have done differently to most years is that they have kept their core team intact, only making a few necessary additions from the mini auction held in December last year. Their first purchase was England pace bowler Reece Topley for INR 1.90 crore and their second buy was all-rounder Will Jacks for INR 3.20 crore. Jacks was brought in as a replacement for Glenn Maxwell, who was injured ahead of the tournament and is unclear if he will be 100% at all times. With that in mind, here is a look at the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the 2023 IPL season.
Like every season, the Challengers boasts of an impeccable top three in the batting lineup. The likes of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Faf du Plessis are terrifying for any bowler to ball to and on their day, each batter can single handedly turn the tide of a match against any opposition. Their bowling department is exceptional as well with the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood. The Challengers have some decent all-rounders as well in Hasaranga, Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror and Will Jacks
If one takes away the big Indian names, like Kohli, Siraj and Harshal, there really isn’t anybody of that quality in the middle order from India. Sure, Rajat Patidar, Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik are all players that have proven themselves, but it is uncertain if they have what it takes to perform in a pressure situation that is created in almost every single IPL game.
RCB also has a problem in the age department. A lot of their big names are players who are well in their 30s, so their fitness could be an issue. The likes of Maxwell, Karthik, du Plessis and Siddharth Kaul have all been playing the game for quite a few years now and are in the final stages of their playing careers. Therefore, their consistency could be a matter of worry.
Like every year, there is only one opportunity that the Challengers need to concern themselves is and that is winning the IPL trophy. Honestly, by this point, they could have the strongest team in the whole world and people would still think twice before picking them as potential champions. However, this year, they have quite a well balanced team. They have stuck to their core players, not made any drastic changes and a lot of their players, including the great Virat Kohli, are in fine form going into the tournament.
Their lack of a potential replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga is a definite cause for concern. Hasaranga will likely be out of action for the team until April 8 and they have no one good enough that can fill the Sri Lankan’s shoes. Even when he returns, there will always be that worry of not having a good replacement should the Sri Lankan be injured or unwell at any point during the tournament.
