Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli shocked fans and pundits alike when he revealed that the 2021 edition would be his last as captain. Although RCB have not won a single IPL title, that does not take anything away from the dominant cricket they have played over the years under Kohli.
So to usher in a new era, it was important to pass the baton to a capable leader who could also handle big stars like Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. The Royal Challengers think tank opted for former South African captain Faf du Plessis in the IPL 2022 auction for a whopping INR 7 crore and decided that he would lead the team.
The league of extraordinary gentlemen. 😎#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 #Mission2022 pic.twitter.com/0iq3dtXvsv
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 15, 2022
RCB also went big for their stars like Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga and bolstered its bowling department with the acquisition of Australian Josh Hazlewood. Although bowling looks good on paper, there have been some areas that the Bangalore franchise was unable to address once again at auction.
On that note, here are three reasons why RCB won’t make the IPL 2022 playoffs:
#1 RCB seem to lack firepower in the middle-order yet again
Royal Challengers Bangalore, over the years, have relied too heavily on the likes of Kohli and AB de Villiers and faced a lack of firepower in the lower-middle order.
.@RCBTweets Here I Come 🤞
@royalchallengersbangalore @iplt20 #RCB #RoyalChallengersBangalore #IPL #IPL2022 #Waniya #Waniya49 #Wani49 pic.twitter.com/qcHun6PY4A
— Wanindu Hasaranga (@Wanindu49) March 14, 2022
The Bangalore-based franchise experimented with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Moeen Ali, Marcus Stoinis, etc., but just couldn’t find the right mix. With De Villiers retiring from all forms of cricket, it was important for them to address this issue at the IPL 2022 auction.
Although they have heavily invested in Hasaranga as a finisher, he has not proven himself in the IPL in the limited opportunities he received last season. They have other options like Sherfane Rutherford, but no one is a guaranteed starter. If other players don’t step up, the team will once again have no choice but to rely too heavily on Kohli and Maxwell.
#2 Overseas captain blocks one spot
There is no doubt that Faf du Plessis has been a sensational leader for South Africa. The 37-year-old’s availability is also not an issue as he does not play international cricket.
Drop a ❤️ and show some love for our new captain, 12th Man Army! 🤩
We can’t wait to get started with #IPL2022. 👊🏻#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/ndtC7bhbwn
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 13, 2022
Although these reasons justify appointing him as the new captain, he also blocks an overseas position in the team. This leaves room for the Royal Challengers to experiment with just three other slots.
Du Plessis had a sensational IPL 2021 season with the bat as he was the second leading run scorer. However, we have seen with the Kolkata Knight Riders and Eoin Morgan that if a foreign captain loses form, it is difficult for the team to deal with them.
Paying a hefty amount for the all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has almost made it imperative for them to play the Sri Lankan in the XI. Therefore, the Bangalore-based franchise only has two slots to fill and this could be a problem for them if foreign players fail to find form.
#3 Lack of quality Indian backups
RCB look like a formidable team on paper when it comes to naming their first XI. However, once again they seem to lack depth in their squad. The likes of Kohli, Harshal, and Mohammed Siraj have been an important part of the franchise and have consistently delivered with their performances.
Always looked good in RCB colours, @HarshalPatel23! 🤩😉
How do you rate the new threads, 12th Man Army?#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/FSUStHnEJm
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) March 13, 2022
However, should any of their Indian star players suffer an unfortunate injury, the available replacements do not look promising. RCB has enlisted the services of young people like Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudesai, etc. But talented players have yet to prove themselves in the IPL.
Going deeper into the tournament, the strength of the RCB bench could be tested. Unless they are extremely lucky and are injury-free or drop in form, this factor could cost them a playoff spot.
