IPL 2022: Best Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Squad revamp, the key focus as we look at the updated best predicted playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2022.
The 15th edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2022 is at the halfway stage, and the tournament is only getting interesting with fierce competition being witnessed among at least 8 teams. Usually, at this stage, none of the teams is knocked out, but such has been the performance of Mumbai Indians that they became the first team to get knocked out of IPL 2022 having lost 8 matches in a row.
Meanwhile, the Royal Challengers Bangalore are currently sitting at the number 5 position with 5 wins from 8 games. Their overall performance hasn’t been bad but the recent batting display against SRH where they were all out for just 68 has resulted in a NRR of – 0.47; which is the lowest among the top 7 teams. This is a big margin to cover with only 6 group stage games to go.
From the team standpoint, the top-order for RCB hasn’t been the way they would have liked. After their humiliating performance, one can expect a couple of changes in their playing 11. So, let’s look at the updated best predicted playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2022? Meanwhile, as per the leading website, Betway, the outright chance of RCB winning the tournament is at 7.00.
IPL 2022 Final Squad for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Batters and WKs: Faf du Plessis, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Virat Kohli, Anuj Rawat (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK) & Finn Allen (WK)
All-rounders: Aneeshwar Gautam, David Willey, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford & Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Akash Deep, Chama Milind, Harshal Patel, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, Siddharth Kaul & Karn Sharma
Openers: Faf du Plessis (C) & Mahipal Lomror
For the first 8 matches, RCB saw the opening duo of Faf du Plessis and Anuj Rawat. While Faf du Plessis has played two stunning knocks to be their current leading run-scorer, Anuj Rawat hasn’t had a good outing in IPL 2022 so far. Rawat could only manage 129 runs from 8 innings at a poor average of 16 and a strike rate of 109. These aren’t the returns one expects from their front-line batter.
With RCB on a winning streak, they could afford to give Anuj Rawat a slightly long rope. But after their humiliating defeat against SRH, they can’t afford to take more risks. Given the situation RCB is in, they can think of playing an experienced Mahipal Lomror instead of Anuj Rawat. Primarily a middle-order batter, Lomror has the attacking game to adapt as an opener. He had a decent outing for RR last year, and can be a good value add for RCB.
Middle-order: Virat Kohli & Glenn Maxwell
Coming to the middle-order, RCB are currently seeing the worst patch of King Kohli. The leading run-scorer in IPL is currently in the worst form of his career having amassed just 119 runs from 8 innings at an average of 17 and a strike rate of 122. He now has two golden ducks in his last two games, and is in desperate need of a confidence booster. Similarly, Maxi hasn’t been his 2021 best. RCB need these two batters to come back to form at the earliest.
Finishers: Suyash Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed & Dinesh Karthik
Similar to Anuj Rawat, Suyas Prabhudessai hasn’t had good overall success, but in the 4 matches he played, Suyash never looked out of touch. He mostly got out playing attacking cricket, and that’s fine. RCB may want to persist with Suyash for a few more matches before taking a call on him, if required. However, if RCB and Cricalytics don’t think alike, they can think of playing Rajat Patidar in place of Suyash.
Meanwhile, Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed have been the best performers for RCB this season. Time and again, both these gentlemen performed when the team was struggling after the loss of 3-4 wickets. While Shahbaz has scored 178 runs at an average of 35, Dinesh Karthik has scored 210 runs at an average of 105 and a Strike rate of 200. These two need to continue their superb performance to give RCB a good chance of Playoffs qualification.
Bowlers: Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood & Mohammed Siraj
Coming to the bowlers, this is where the Royal Challengers Bangalore has had good success. They have a good bowling unit, and the pace trio of Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj and the spin of Wanindu Hasaranga has been quite good. These 4 are the reason why RCB have been a good performer so far.
All four bring unit strengths to the table, and have been fairly successful so far. While Josh Hazlewood and Mohammed Siraj are good powerplay bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga takes wickets in the middle overs, and Harshal Patel bowls really well in the middle overs and death Overs. All four need to continue performing for RCB to have a good chance of Playoffs qualification.
Updated Best Playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2022:
Faf du Plessis (C), Mahipal Lomror, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudesai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood & Mohammed Siraj
So, that completes the updated best predicted playing 11 for RCB IPL 2022. They are for sure going to replace Anuj Rawat, but should persist with the finishing of Suyash Prabhudessai for a few more matches.
Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for IPL 2022? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com
ALSO READ: IPL 2022: Consolidated Official Schedule Announced – Download Pdf
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.
