IPL 2022: Best 18 Players Squad for RCB – Warner to Lead

David Warner expected to captain as we look at the best predicted dream squad for RCB for IPL 2022. 

As I started writing this article, the biggest news of the year popped in on my screen. Team India’s finest Test Captain and RCB heartthrob, Virat Kohli voluntarily stepped down as the Captain of the Indian Test Team. It wasn’t a pleasing sight to witness as Virat Kohli as Test captain has not only brought glory but also inspired generations to come. 

As we stand today, Virat Kohli has officially retired from all forms of captaincy including the captaincy of the club that gave him a new meaning, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. It will take some time to digest the fact that Virat Kohli won’t be captaining any team going forward, and he would be back to playing as a player under someone else’s captaincy. 

Coming to the topic of our interest, how and what does RCB have in mind when it comes to IPL 2022. They retained only three players in the form of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj. The team is without a leader at the moment with Maxwell himself being a potential candidate. 

But more importantly, RCB let go of a lot of their existing members owing to squad restrictions. So, which of their existing members will RCB go after in the Auction? Which new members can RCB look at? Let’s look at the best predicted dream squad for RCB for IPL 2022. 

To keep things simple, we will only look at an 18-member squad as that is the minimum number any squad is asked to maintain. Anything additional is completely an individual franchise decision. Also, we shall be exploring the squad in different categories to give you a wholesome experience. Meanwhile, according to Betway India, RCB are the hottest property in the IPL 2022 Auction. 

Openers

Top-order Batters: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli & David Warner 

Backups: Daryl Mitchell, KS Bharat & Devon Conway  

When it comes to Top-order batters, RCB retained only Virat Kohli. IPL 2021 once saw Virat Kohli opening the innings alongside Devdutt Padikkal. This has been a successful combination for them in 2020 as well as 2021. To maintain the sync, RCB would definitely want to purchase back their local opener, Devdutt Padikkal. 

The other main thing that RCB would definitely be looking at is hiring a leader. It is a known fact that Virat Kohli won’t lead the side anymore. From the available options, David Warner seems the most logical answer. The former SRH captain has successfully led the SRH side, and would now be looking for a new side to lead. RCB may have to shell somewhere around 12-15 Cr. to get the services for Warner.

Apart from these two, RCB will want back KS Bharat as their primary wicket-keeper. He had done decently for RCB in IPL 2021, and could be expected to play at number 3 as he did in 2021. In addition, RCB would look for two strong overseas options, and seeing the Options, Kiwi duo of Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell are healthy options.

Other Batters

Main Other Batters: Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone & Aiden Markram 

Backup Batters: Abhinav Manohar

Glenn Maxwell had a successful stint as a batter for RCB in 2021. This gave confidence to the RCB management to retain him for IPL 2022. However, apart from Maxwell, RCB don’t have a strong middle-order batter. AB de Villiers is retired, and that is a big void to be filled. Whereas the likes of Tim David, Daniel Christian, and Wanindu Hasaranga may not be invested by RCB again. 

As a replacement for Ab de Villiers, RCB would need a strong middle-order option. If we look at the International teams at the moment, Liam Livingstone is a big name that RCB can definitely look at. At around INR 10Cr, Livingstone won’t be a bad buy. In addition, the team can look at Aiden Markram as a good backup option. There’s also emerging Karnataka finisher Abhinav Manohar whom RCB would be interested to purchase.

ALSO READ: IPL 2022 Special: Best Predicted Squad for Chennai Super Kings (CSK)

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All-rounders

Two Main All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell & Washington Sundar 

Backup All-rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Shahbaz Ahmed & Liam Livingstone 

Talking about all-rounders, RCB have only Glenn Maxwell at the moment. The team let go of Washington Sundar, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Daniel Christian. However, of the three, RCB may only be looking in getting back Washington Sundar. Sundar has been a regular RCBian, and if not for the injury, he would have been retained as well. 

Apart from these two, RCB may want Shahbaz Ahmed back in the squad. Amhed has been impressive in whatever limited opportunities he has got. He would certainly be on the cards for spin-friendly pitches. In addition, RCB also have Liam Livingstone and Daryl Mitchell as backup all-rounders. Both are decent part-time bowling options to have.

Spinners

Main Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal & Washington Sundar 

Backup Openers: Shahbaz Ahmed 

The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore is often known for its pace and bounce. It is one place that is not a good spin-friendly wicket. In lieu of that, RCB have historically not invested much in the spinners. While Washington Sundar and Shahbaz Ahmed fulfill most of the spinning duties, RCB would want to get back their prime spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal. 

Yuzi Chahal has undoubtedly been the best Indian spinner in IPL in the last couple of years. Not only that, but Yuzi Chahal is also the leading spinner in the limited-overs squad for Team India. A pitch agnostic bowler that he is, Chahal would be on the target list of RCB, and can shell out anywhere close to 7-8 Cr for him. 

Pacers

Main Pacers: Harshal Patel, Mitchell Starc & Mohammed Siraj 

Backup Pacers: Prasidh Krishna & Tymal Mills 

This is an area that could see RCB invest in a few new names. Among the previous RCB pacers which included the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel, D Chameera, Kyle Jamieson, and George Garton, only Mohammed Siraj was retained for IPL 2022. The team could have thought of retaining Purple Patel, but maybe cost was a deciding factor. However, RCB will definitely look to get back Harshal.

The good thing for RCB management and fans is that Mitchell Starc has decided to put his name in the auction. This is big news as Mitchell Starc has been a part of RCB setup before, and RCB management would definitely want to get him back in the squad. In addition, RCB will need one good Indian pacer and one good overseas pacer. 

From the available options, the localite Prasidh Krishna would be a good value add for RCB. While KKR will also be after him, it would be great to have him in the RCB squad. Then there’s Tymal Mills, who already has RCB experience under his belt. He would also be a good value add for RCB. Mills is already a star bowler for England, and his variations could be useful. 

So, that completes the best predicted dream squad for RCB for IPL 2022. Overall, I do understand that we may not get all players as planned. But I am hoping RCB would get at-least10-12 players from the above-mentioned ones. If they get more, it’s a big bonus. If not, we will see a lot of new additions to the squad. 

IPL 2022: Predicted Dream Squad for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Batters: Abhinav Manohar, Aiden Markram, David Warner, Devdutt Padikkal, Devon Conway, KS Bharat & Virat Kohli 

All-rounders: Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Maxwell, Liam Livingstone, Shahbaz Ahmed & Washington Sundar 

Bowlers: Harshal Patel, Mitchell Starc, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Tymal Mills & Yuzvendra Chahal

Additional Backup Players: Aniket Chowdhary, KC Kariappa, Mohammed Azharuddeen, MD Nidheesh, Rajat Patidar, Sachin Baby & Suyash Prabhudesai, 

Coach: Sanjay Bangar // Captain: David Warner // Vice-captain: Glenn Maxwell 

Thanks for reading! What’s your dream RCB squad for IPL 2022? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Unlucky Playing 11 that missed being retained by Franchises

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Adesh Kothari

Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.

Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.

Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.