What Playing 11 RCB Need to Qualify for IPL 2024 Playoffs

Virat Kohli or Faf du Plessis need to step back as we look at the best playing 11 that Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) need to qualify for the IPL 2024 Playoffs.

We are almost at the halfway stage of the IPL 2024, and one team that has seldom impressed this season has been the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They are strangling at the bottom of the IPL 2024 points table with just 1 win from 7 games; highlighting their worst performance in the last few years in the Indian Premier League.

So, what has gone wrong for Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season? Has it been their poor retention strategy, or has it been their mediocre Auction performance, or has it been their focus on strengthening only their batting, or is there any other reason? Well, technically, one can say it is a combination of all, but if there is one thing that has been poorly managed by RCB, it is their resources.

It is no secret that RCB are a batting-centric team, they always have been. Year-on-year, they keep on investing only in batters – be it Virat Kohli himself, Ab de Villiers, or Chris Gayle. But have seldom invested in bowlers for a longer period of time. One can only name a handful of good bowlers, who represented the franchise on a regular basis.

What Went Wrong for RCB in IPL 2024?

But this time around, they not just have a below-par bowling lineup, but their batting has also looked in shambles. But more than that, it is RCB’s reluctance to persist with players for a longer run, and to try players out of their usual comfortable positions has been a big issue. Take Virat Kohli, Cameron Green, Rajat Patidar, or even Glenn Maxwell. None of them are playing in their usual positions.

There is extremely horrible role clarity among the players of RCB, and add to that is their below-average bowling lineup, which has again done nothing so far. The combination of these things has got to hold the management responsible for not having any clarity on their players, and just expecting them to perform 100% without even having a proper strategy.

Having said that, all is not lost as yet for RCB. They still have seven more matches to go, and even if they win six of those seven matches, they can still make it to the Playoffs mathematically. But for that, RCB will have to make some tough decisions, and stick to that for the entire 7 matches. So, what’s the ideal playing 11 RCB need to adopt to qualify for the Playoffs of IPL 2024? Well, let’s find out in this article. 

IPL 2024 Official Squad Players List for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Batters: Faf du Plessis (c&o), Rajat Patidar, Saurav Chauhan, Suyash Prabhudessai, Virat Kohli & Will Jacks (o)

WKs: Anuj Rawat & Dinesh Karthik

All-rounders: Cameron Green (o), Glenn Maxwell (o), Mahipal Lomror, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Swapnil Singh & Tom Curran (o)

Bowlers: Akash Deep, Alzarri Joseph (o), Himanshu Sharma, Karn Sharma, Lockie Ferguson (o), Mohammed Siraj, Rajan Kumar, Reece Topley (o), Vyshak Vijaykumar & Yash Dayal

IPL 2024 Best Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

Batters – Virat Kohli, Will Jacks, Faf du Plessis & Rajat Patidar

The first thing RCB need to do is correct their opening combination. Be it Will Jacks or Cameron Green, these guys are game changers, and better suited as openers. So, one of Faf du Plessis or Virat Kohli has to play one down. Ideally, Virat Kohli should play at his usual number 3 position, but since he has been their best batsman, Faf du Plessis should sacrifice his position to play at number 3.

With Will Jacks as the preferred player currently above Cameron Green, we should see him open alongside Virat Kohli. Now, ideally, Rajat Patidar should be playing at number 3, but Faf can’t go any lower, so Faf plays at 3, and Rajat Patidar plays at 4. This should be the fixed batting-order for RCB for all their 7 matches. Persist with this, and see how it goes.

Finishers – Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik & Mahipal Lomror

Number 5 should have Ideally belonged to Glenn Maxwell. But since Maxwell has forced himself out of the tournament, Cameron Green can take this place at number 5 position. Now, again, this is an unusual position for Green, but it can’t be helped as RCB have technically filled the side with all top-order batters. Meanwhile, the finishing duties should rely on Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror given both are in terrific form. Aside from Virat Kohli, Dinesh and Mahipal have looked like the best batters in the side. 

Bowlers – Swapnil Singh, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal & Vyshak Vijaykumar

Finally, coming to the bowlers including the impact players, Mohammed Siraj should lead the bowling attack irrespective of his form. Sure, RCB gave him a break in the last match, but that’s about it for Siraj, and he should be back in the side. Alongside Siraj, RCB should Lockie Ferguson above any other Overseas pacer in the side. Lockie is a quality bowler, and better than Topley or Alzarri. 

Finally, for the other three spots, RCB should play Swapnil as the spinner above Himanshu Sharma, Karn Sharma, or Mayank Dagar. Neither Himanshu, Karn, nor Mayank has been impressive so far with the ball, so why not try Swapnil Singh this time, and give him at least 3-4 matches. For the final two pacers’ spots, it should go to Yash Dayal and Vyshak Vijaykumar. Both are the best options available with RCB, so should be preferred accordingly.  

IPL 2024 Best Playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)

1. Will Jacks
2. Virat Kohli
3. Faf du Plessis (c)
4. Rajat Patidar (i)
5. Cameron Green
6. Dinesh Karthik (wk)
7. Mahipal Lomror
8. Lockie Ferguson
9. Swapnil Singh
10. Mohammed Siraj
11. Yash Dayal
12. Vyshak Vijaykumar (i)

Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2024? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

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