Royal Challengers Bangalore continue to hunt for their maiden trophy when they take the field in the IPL 2024 and here's RCB best playing XI. The men in red and gold have come close to winning the championship twice in the Indian Premier League, making the final in 2009 and 2016, losing to Deccan Chargers and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively.
The search for that elusive trophy continues for RCB as they go into the IPL 2024 with new hopes, new enthusiasm and some new players in their ranks. Ahead of the 2024 IPL auction, they released the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel – three bowlers who have been the mainstays of their bowling unit in the past.
Royal Challengers Bangalore needed to revamp their side but somehow managed to come out worse than they were last year. Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson and Yash Dayal were notable names they bought in the auction while they had traded in Cameron Green and Mayank Dagar earlier.
They will be hoping that their big guns Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj deliver a great campaign. Here we take a look at the best playing XI of RCB for the IPL 2024.
Chennai Super Kings – CSK best playing XI in IPL 2024
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Full squad for IPL 2024
Faf du Plessis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Mohammed Siraj, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Cameron Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan
RCB best playing XI in IPL 2024
Royal Challengers Bangalore have strengthened their batting unit with the addition of Cameron Green but the bowling unit has become weaker. They were hoping to get Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc in the auction but had to settle for Alzarri Joseph and Lockie Ferguson. Here is what we think RCB's best playing XI would be at the IPL 2024.
1. Faf du Plessis
Faf du Plessis will continue to lead the side in the IPL 2024. His batting has been in pretty good shape in recent times and has looked to be extra aggressive in the powerplay. He had his best IPL campaign in the previous edition, scoring 730 runs at an average of 56 while striking at 154, including eight fifties.
2. Virat Kohli
The Indian maestro has been in great touch since August 2022 and will be key for RCB in the next season. Virat Kohli made 639 runs in the IPL 2023, averaging 53 at a strike rate of nearly 140. He smashed two centuries and six half centuries in the season and is a must in RCB best playing XI.
3. Rajat Patidar
Rajat Patidar missed the entirety of the 2023 season due to an injury and it was a big blow to RCB. If fit, he will take his number three place in the upcoming edition. Patidar was outstanding for RCB in the IPL 2022, scoring 333 runs at an average of 55 while striking at 153.
4. Glenn Maxwell
In RCB best playing XI, Glenn Maxwell has been a key figure for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the last three years. He has had his best IPL years with RCB, smashing over 1200 runs at a strike rate of 161 while averaging 35. Maxwell provides the much-needed explosiveness to the side and offers good balance with his off-spin bowling.
5. Cameron Green
RCB tied themselves with the Green trade for INR 17.5 crore. Not only could they have acquired someone like Rovman Powell but also have enough purse to get Mitchell Starc. Having said that, they would hope Green emulates his last season, where he scored 452 runs for Mumbai Indians at an average of 50 and strike rate of 160 and he's going to make it to RCB best playing XI.
6. Mahipal Lomror
The Royal Challengers don't have any reliable Indian options for this spot and will have to decide between Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Suyash Prabhudessai and other youngsters who are yet to play in the IPL. Lomror is known for his spin-hitting abilities and had struck at 139 in 10 games last season.
7. Dinesh Karthik (wk)
Dinesh Karthik is the designated finisher for RCB and will be hoping for better returns. He had a terrific season for the team in the IPL 2022, where he averaged 55 and scored runs at 183 strike rate. Last season was forgettable for him as he managed only 140 runs at an average of 11.7.
8. Suyash Prabhudessai
RCB have a big dilemma when it comes to this spot. They don't have a quality Indian all-rounder so they might have to go with either a specialist batter or bowler. Assuming Green and Maxwell bowl four overs between them, having Suyash Prabhudessai gives them batting depth.
9. Karn Sharma
With Wanindu Hasaranga being let go of, Karn Sharma will be the frontline spinner for RCB in the IPL 2024. The leg-spinner played seven matches in the last edition of the tournament, picking 10 wickets at an expensive rate of 10.37.
10. Mohammed Siraj
The right-arm seamer has become a key part of India's bowling attack across three formats. Siraj will be leading the RCB attack in the IPL 2024 as well. He picked 19 wickets in the previous edition at an economy of 7.50 while striking every 15.8 deliveries and will be in RCB best playing XI.
11. Reece Topley
With three overseas spots pretty much set in stone, there is one spot left for an overseas fast bowler. RCB have four options – Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, Tom Curran and Reece Topley. Joseph and Curran provide batting depth while Joseph and Ferguson have raw speed. But Topley offers the left-arm pace option and is a very good new ball bowler.
Yash Dayal (Impact Player)
Having let go of Harshal Patel and only one overseas available, Bangalore have to rely on inexperienced Indian pacers. They bought Yash Dayal in the 2024 auction for INR 5 crore. Dayal bagged seven wickets in the IPL 2023 at an economy of 9.80.
