IPL 2021: Predicted Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

IPL 2021 UAE: Key match-winners, the focus as we look at the ideal predicted playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

The Royal Challengers Bangalore on Saturday kicked-off their second leg of IPL 2021 with some made some big announcements. While all Indian players and most of the overseas players are available for the second leg of IPL 2021, RCB made 3 key replacements in the overseas department. 

RCB added the exciting all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga given his player of the series performance against India in the T20I series. He will be replacing Adam Zampa, who has made himself unavailable. The second one to get added is another Sri Lankan, Dushmantha Chameera, who replaces Daniel Sams, who too made himself unavailable.

In addition, RCB added the exciting attacking batsman, Tim David, who is replacing Finn Allen, who too is unavailable for the second leg of IPL 2021. Importantly, there is still no news on the eighth overseas player. Kane Richardson is unavaiable, and George Garton will replace him. Meanwhile, Bengal pacer Akash Deep shall take the injured Washington Sundar’ss place. 

Meanwhile, if we recap, RCB are third on the points table with 10 points from 7 games after the end of phase 1 in India. With 7 more games left before the all-important Knock-outs, what could be the ideal predicted playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the second leg of IPL 2021? Let’s find out in this article.

IPL 2021 UAE Final Squad for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

New Entries: Akash Deep, Tim David, Wanindu Hassaranga, Dushmanta Chameera, and George Garton. 

Batsmen: Ab de Villiers (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Glenn Maxwell, KS Bharath, Mohammed Azharudeen (WK), Rajat Patidar, Sachin Baby, Suyash Prabhudessai, Tim David, and Virat Kohli (C)

All-rounders: Daniel Christian, Pavan Deshpande, Shahbaz Ahmad, Wanindu Hassaranga.

Bowlers: Akash Deep, Dushmanta Chameera, George Garton, Harshal Patel, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammad Siraj, Navdeep Saini, and Yuzvendra Chahal

Openers: Devdutt Padikkal & Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli had made his intentions very clear that he would open in IPL. Hence, Virat Kohli will once again don the opening duties for RCB. Partnering with him will be Devdutt Padikkal, who has been a consistent performer for Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2020.

The opening duo of Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal have been decently successful. In the 6 matches the duo played together in IPL 2021, they managed an opening partnership of 19, 30, 44, 181*, 6, and 19. That’s 299 Runs at an average of 59.8. Individually, Devdutt scored 195 runs at an average of 39. Whereas Kohli scored 198 runs so far at an average of 33. 

Middle-order: Rajat Patidar, AB de Villiers & Glenn Maxwell

Virat Kohli played Rajat Patidar at number 3 on most occasions. However, his role was mostly limited to playing second-fiddle to Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, and the openers. The rationale behind this more was to give more depth to the batting by playing AB de Villiers at 5.

While the move did give decent returns as a team, personally, Patidar didn’t have good returns. He could only manage 71 runs at a strike rate of 114 and an average of 17.75. However, trust Virat Kohli to stick to Patidar for the start of the second Leg of IPL 2021. 

Meanwhile, the attacking overseas finisher duo of Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers would once again be expected to play an important role in the team. They did quite well in the first half with Maxwell scoring 223 runs at a strike rate of 145. Whereas AB de Villiers scoring 207 runs at a strike rate of 164. 

All-rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga & Shahbaz Ahmed

Ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021, RCB signed the exciting Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga as a replacement for Adam Zampa. The wily Leg spinner from Sri Lanka is a good bowling all-rounder, and will be a potent addition to the RCB squad in the absence of Daniel Sams and Kane Richardson. If the pitch assists spin, Wanindu should be the go-to man. Otherwise, RCB will have to switch to Daniel Christian. 

After the injury of Washington Sundar, RCB are left with no other option than to play Shahbaz Ahmad at number 7. Sundar would have been a perfect bowling all-rounder for the team, but will have to now settle for the inexperience of Shahbaz Ahmed. Shahbaz can provide for a couple of overs in the middle overs, and is also handy with the bat. 

Bowlers: Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj & Yuzvendra Chahal

Harshal Patel was the star of the first half of IPL 2021 having finished as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets from just 7 matches. RCB would want Harshal to keep taking wickets, but of course at a miser economy rate. Unlike Harshal, Yuzvendra Chahal didn’t have a good IPL 2021 so far. He could only take 4 wickets at a poor average of 47.5. But the leggie should be back in the form given his recent performance in Sri Lanka. 

The attacking pacer duo of Kyle Jamieson and Mohammed Siraj shall once again be the pace force alongside Harshal Patel. Both were good in the first half with Jamieson faking 9 wickets at an average of 24.6 and Siraj taking 6 wickets at an average of 31.8. Given the current form of these two, it would be a booster for RCB. 

So, that completes the ideal predicted playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2021 in UAE. 

Ideal Predicted Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2021 UAE:

Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers (WK), Wanindu Hasaranga,  Shahbaz Ahmed, Kyle Jamieson, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj & Yuzvendra Chahal. 

Barring the above-mentioned ideal predicted playing 11, The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) can also try for the following combinations. 

• Tim David for Wanindu Hasaranga to strengthen the lower-order 
• Dushmantha Chameera for Wanindu Hasaranga to suit pace-friendly wickets. 
• Daniel Christian for Wanindu Hasaranga to strengthen lower-order and bring a part-time bowling option. 
• Navdeep Saini as a backup for Harshal Patel or Mohammed Siraj. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your predicted playing 11 for RCB for IPL 2021 UAE? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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