What Should Be the Royal Challengers Bangalore's Plan for the 2020 Auction After a Disappointing Season?

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has had a tumultuous journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception. Despite having an array of star batsmen like Virat Kohli, Devendra Bhanu, and Shimron Hetmyer, the team has yet to secure a championship title. The 2019 season was particularly challenging, ending with an underwhelming wooden spoon position. In this article, we explore a comprehensive strategy for the 2020 IPL auction to help RCB turn its fortunes around.

Batsmen: Strengthening the Middle Order

RCB has always relied on its top-class batting lineup, but the middle order needs a boost to ensure a more resilient performance. The team should look for a batsman who can play adaptably, similar to how Manchester Indianapolis (MI) utilizes Suryakumar Yadav. Key players to retain include:

Virat Kohli (C) AB de Villiers Shimron Hetmyer Gurkeerat Singh Mann Parthiv Patel (WK)

While the team aims to retain these stalwarts, they should also look to bolster the middle order by adding players like:

Eoin Morgan Aron Finch

Bowlers: Strategic Overhauls Needed

RCB’s bowling department has faced criticism, particularly with their fast bowlers underperforming in the 2019 IPL. The team should release all current fast bowlers except Bhuvneshwar Kumar and focus on acquiring:

Mitchell Starc Pat Cummins Tom Curran

In addition, the spin department needs to be strengthened by adding an all-rounder like:

Glen Maxwell James Neesham Jalaj Saxena

Performance Metrics and Retainment Decisions

RCB’s player retention and purchase policy should be guided by recent performances and potential impact. Key players to retain include:

Virat Kohli Parthiv Patel (WK) AB de Villiers Shimron Hetmyer Moeen Ali Marcus Stoinis Gurkeerat Singh Mann Washington Sundar Navdeep Saini Kulwant Khejroliya Yuzvendra Chahal Prayas Barman Himmat Singh Devdutt Padikkal Mohammed Siraj Nathan Coulter-Nile

Players to release include:

Shivam Dubey Tim Southee (release him, despite his World Cup performances) CDG (release him, despite his World Cup performances) Pavan Negi Heinrich Klaasen Umesh Yadav (release, as he’s aging) Akshdeep Nath (release, despite his decent domestic performance) Dale Steyn (release, as he’s aging and unlikely to get younger)

Potential Acquisitions for 2020 IPL Auction

To further strengthen the team, RCB should consider the following acquisitions:

Two pace bowlers out of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Chris Woakes Prasidh Krishna (trade from KKR) A younger wicket-keeper backup like Harvik Desai Joe Root (consider signing him as a surprise package) Cheteshwar Pujara (consider signing him, despite being overlooked) Umesh Yadav at a lower price

Expected Playing XI for 2020 Season

In an ideal scenario, with the players mentioned above, the playing XI for RCB could look like this:

Parthiv Patel (WK) Washington Sundar Davdutt Padikkal Virat Kohli AB de Villiers Shimron Hetmyer/Moeen Ali Marcus Stoinis Mitchell Starc Navdeep Saini Mohammed Siraj Yuzvendra Chahal

To conclude, RCB's strategy for the 2020 IPL auction should focus on retaining proven players while strategically acquiring new talent who can bolster the middle order and the bowling unit. This comprehensive approach is essential to improving the team's performance and increasing their chances of success in the upcoming season.