Will IPL 2023 RCB lift the IPL trophy for the first time? It’s been the most awaited event every Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fan is waiting for. RCB is a renowned team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and enjoys a great deal of popularity among fans. The team has been a part of the IPL since its inception in 2008 and has had a mixed bag of performances over the years. While RCB has been one of the most consistent teams in the IPL, they have also had some disappointing seasons where they failed to make it to the playoffs.
Till IPL 2023 RCB has had some memorable performances over the years, including reaching the final of the IPL on three occasions, in 2009, 2011, and 2016. However, they have been unable to cross the final hurdle and lift the trophy. The team has been led by some of the biggest names in international cricket, including Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Daniel Vettori, among others.
In the early years of the IPL, RCB had a relatively inexperienced squad and struggled to make an impact. However, they turned things around in 2009 when they finished as runners-up, losing to Deccan Chargers in the final. In the following years, RCB continued to build a strong team and became a consistent presence in the playoffs.
Even though the team comprises some of the most prominent players in the sport. RCB has often struggled to find a balance in their team. Their batting line-up, featuring Kohli and de Villiers, has been one of the most feared in the league.
IPL 2023 RCB Squad
For the upcoming IPL 2023, the team will be led by South African cricketer Faf du Plessis, who took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli in the previous year. RCB’s roster also boasts an array of talented players, such as Mohammed Siraj, Dinesh Karthik, Glenn Maxwell, and Harshal Patel.
To provide a comprehensive overview of the current RCB squad. We have collated the latest squad details. Which includes information about retained players, released players, and new additions to the team.
The following players have been retained by the team for IPL 2023: Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Faf Du Plessis (C), Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmad, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Karn Sharma, David Willey.
Released player: Jason Behrendorff, Aneeshwar Gautam, Sherfrane Rutherford.
Royal Challengers Bangalore RCB’s Full Squad for IPL 2023: Virat Kohli (c), Faf du Plessis, Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harshal Patel, Finn Allen, Akash Deep, Karn Sharma, Anuj Rawat, Siddarth Kaul, Michael Bracewell, Sonu Yadav, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Himanshu Sharma, Wayne Parnell.
RCB Strengths
RCB’s biggest strength this season has been their top order as it has been handled by experienced players like Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. Both have looked in good touch this season and have been contributing the most runs for RCB. Faf du Plessis currently holds the orange cap in the tournament with the highest score of 405 in 7 games. Both have looked in good touch this season and have been contributing the most runs for RCB.
In the middle order, the team has experienced finishers like Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik who can turn the game in the team’s favor at any point in time. The bowling department is handled by Mohammad Siraj, Wanindu Hasaranga and Harshal Patel who are RCB’s best bowlers. Currently, Mohmmad Siraj is the highest wicket-taker of the team. He has picked up 13 wickets so far in the tournament for RCB.
RCB Weaknesses
RCB relies on its top order most of the time for runs. If top orders fall, then posting a good total or chasing it becomes extremely difficult for RCB. Apart from Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik, other players like Shahbaz Ahmad and Mahipal Lomror are not performing well to support the team’s middle order. RCB must improve their middle order if they want to fancy their chances for playoffs.
Bowling in the death overs is also an issue for RCB as their bowlers have not been able to stop runs so far. Apart from Siraj, Harshal, and Hasaranga, other bowlers are looting runs. Even Harshal Patel gets costlier at times, but he always comes back by taking wickets. If they want to stand in front of big teams in the tournament, then RCB will have to overcome their weaknesses before the playoffs.
IPL 2023 RCB players to watch for
The very first name which comes to mind is Virat Kohli. The way he batted in the T20 world cup 2022 for India is sufficient to describe what he can do in this format. Currently, he is the 2nd highest scorer for the team after Faf du Plessis. Kohli has scored 249 runs so far in the 7 IPL 2023 games.
Glenn Maxwell is the second name on the list, but his bat is still silent. He sure has returned in the form which is a good sign for RCB. His innings against RR and CSK this season showed what he is capable of. He smashed CSK bowlers for 8 sixes in his 78 runs innings. This is what RCB expects from Maxwell in the middle order.
Will RCB win the IPL 2023 Title?
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has a strong team with experienced players like Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammad Siraj. The team’s top order is their biggest strength, and their bowling has also improved this season. However, RCB’s middle order needs to perform better, and their death bowling needs to be more consistent. While RCB has been a consistent presence in the playoffs over the years, they have never won the IPL trophy, despite reaching the finals three times. Therefore, it remains to be seen whether RCB can overcome its weaknesses and win the title in IPL 2023.
