Royal Challengers Bangalore - IPL 2014 team analysis

Here is a look at the RCB team for the 2014 IPL edition - and my take on it.

•        Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB DeVilliers, Yuvraj Singh, Nic Maddinson, Vijay Zol are the batsmen in the team
•        Mitchell Starc, Varun Aaron, Ashok Dinda, Muthiah Muralidharan, Ravi Rampaul,  Harshal Patel,  Abu Nechim,  Shahab Jakati,  Sandeep Warrior, Yuzvendra Chahal are the bowlers
•        Albie Morkel, Sachin Rana, Tanmay Mishra are the allrounders
•        Parthiv Patel and Yogesh Takawale are the wicket keepers

The strategy behind this team selection was very confusion at first.  But on careful analysis, I believe this might turn out to be one of the stronger teams in this year’s IPL.

The team has a tremendous batting line up with Gayle, AB, Virat and Yuvaraj.  Throw in the big hitting Albie Morkel – this team will post huge scores, especially in good batting conditions – and win many matches just on the back of batting.  In the bowling department, the team seems to have preferred the quick bowlers – all of them seem to be bowlers who can bowl upwards of 140 kmph consistently – Mitchell Starc, Varun Aaron, Ashok Dinda, Ravi Rampaul, etc.  Especially if the tournament is shifted to South Africa – this attack will serve them well.  Parthiv Patel will most likely don the gloves, in addition to opening the batting with Chris Gayle.

Overall, all these components seem to come together very well – especially suited for the T20 game.  If there were any obvious weaknesses – I would say spin bowling (sorry Murali – I don’t see you getting many games) and all-rounders.  And I suspect that the bowlers will struggle to keep opposition batsmen quiet.

And this also looks like the ‘party team’ of IPL.  With the likes Yuvaraj joining Gayle and Kohli – this team is sure to be in high spirits – consistent with the image of the owners of the team.