IPL 2020: These reasons make RCB firm favourites for title win

First Published Sep 9, 2020, 8:42 PM IST

RCB are being led by Virat Kohli for the past eight seasons. They finished eighth last season, while their best performance is being the runners-up in 2009 and 2011.

Led by Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are one of the premier teams to have never won the IPL yet. With a star-studded line-up, RCB have always been fancied as one of the top teams in the entire tournament. However, they have always failed to deliver.

Nonetheless, things can change in cricket in no time, as Kohli and co. are determined to end their 12-year jinx and finally, lay their hands on the coveted trophy. In the same light, we analyse some possible reasons as to why they are the firm favourites this season.

1. Hardcore Indian line-up

While RCB has mostly relied on its overseas players over the years, things have changed in the recent past, as they have been successful in roping in some talented Indian players through the auction. Along with wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, RCB has a hardcore Indian line-up, especially in the bowling department that consists the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Shivam Dube and a couple of others.

It is evident that RCB have strengthened their bowling department and would be heavily relying on the Indian bowlers, along with some overseas bowlers to inflict maximum damage to the opponent batting line-up.

2. In-form batsmen

As for the batting department, Kohli, along with swashbuckling South African AB de Villiers, are always the ones in form and are certain to deliver. However, the side won't just be dependent on them this time, as other batsmen like Aaron Finch, Devdutt Padikkal and Josh Philippe are in good form of late.

Since the conclusion of IPL 2019, Finch has scored 443 runs in 12 matches at a fine average of 44.30, including three half-centuries. Meanwhile, Padikkal too is coming off a great domestic season, having finished as the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season. Philippe too finished as the third-highest run-scorer in the Big Bash League (BBL) last season. Need we say more?

3. No more death-bowling troubles?

One of the areas where RCB have struggled for long enough is the death bowling. While Marcus Stoinis was a disaster last season, the arrival of South Africa's Chris Morris would certainly give them an edge.

Although the side would still be haunted by the absence of Australia's Kane Richardson; Dale Steyn, along with Saini, Umesh and Mohammad Siraj, too, have improved a lot recently, as they are likely to execute things perfectly this time.

4. Strong start from the openers

While Patel is always the kind of opener who plays a composed knock, the inclusion of Finch will allow both these batsmen to play more freely, thus giving them the platform for a strong opening start. Also, if not Patel, Padikkal can come into the frame as an opener, alongside Finch, to give RCB the perfect start.