IPL 2019: The perfect playing XI for RCB
Royal Challengers Bangalore seemed to have addressed most of their problems in the auctions this year with the purchase of a couple of big players like Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, and Shivam Dube. They looked like a team that meant business and many fans strongly believed that this could be RCB’s year.
That was until the inaugural match took place. RCB were bowled out for just 70 runs against Chennai Super Kings and in the following match against Mumbai Indians, they lost by just 6 runs. After another couple of disappointing losses, RCB are currently sitting at the bottom of the points table and will soon be out of contention for the playoffs if they don't turn their fortunes around.
So, what went wrong for Virat Kohli’s team?
One of the reasons for their poor performances this season has to be the team selection. Players who haven’t performed well like Hetmyer have still found a place in the playing XI. Lack of team balance and too many underperforming foreign all-rounders just adds to RCB’s problems. RCB have paid big money to retain players like Washington Sundar and Pawan Negi, yet Sundar hasn't found a place in the playing XI while Negi has played just two matches.
The good news for RCB is that they may not have to wait for next year to turn things around. They have all the talent needed to excel this season and require just a few tweaks.
With the perfect playing XI, RCB can start winning their matches. But what is the perfect playing XI for RCB? We have tried to answer that question in this post by picking RCB’s best possible playing XI.
Please let us know your perfect playing XI for RCB in the comments section below.
Openers (Parthiv Patel (wk), Marcus Stoinis)
One of the biggest talking points for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season has been its opening combination. In six matches so far, Parthiv Patel has had three different openers and therefore, RCB’s highest opening partnership is just 64 runs.
It goes without saying that getting off to a good start can really help take the load off the middle order. Hence, Royal Challengers Bangalore really need to nail their opening combination perfectly. So, who should open with Parthiv Patel? RCB could stick with Parthiv and Virat or they could try one more opening combination – Parthiv Patel and Marcus Stoinis.
It would be better for RCB if Stoinis opens the batting with Parthiv Patel.
Marcus Stoinis has opened the batting for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League and finished the tournament as the third highest run scorer with 533 runs.
Looking at Stoinis’ performance in the previous few games, he looks to be in some good form. Therefore, Virat & co. need to capitalize on this by having him open the innings. This could add more stability to RCB’s top order and also take some pressure off AB de Villiers allowing him to play a bit more freely.
On the hand, Parthiv Patel has been RCB’s standout batsman this year and all he needs is another partner at the other end who could help alleviate RCB’s top order woes.
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