RCB couldn’t manage a trophy with the old name since the start of Indian Premier League, but at least the franchise will be satisfied that the reign got over with the trophy drought ending with the women’s winning it. If not men, the women did it, only in their second year… but for males, the question remains, will that elusive trophy be RCB’s ultimately in IPL 2024?
RCB is red
Now kissed with blue
We’re ready with our new armour
To Play Bold for you!Presenting to you, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match livery of 2024! 🤩
How good is this, 12th Man Army? 🗣️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #RCBUnbox #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/2ySPpmhrsq
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 19, 2024
Possess the necessary firepower
The Top 6 can creep fear into any bowling lineup. Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Dinesh Karthik complete the batting firepower.
With three Indian players and two bowling options already in place, RCB can use Anuj Rawat, a pure hitter, at No. 7 as an impact substitute. Patidar was the missing piece of the puzzle for the team last year, and this might be a great breakthrough season for him. Nevertheless, when this batting lineup is clicking, it has the ability to destroy even the most formidable bowling units.
Alternatively, Mahipal Lomror or Tom Curran might take Green’s spot and play as the batter. Curran is quite handful with the long handle late in the order, in addition to helping to add a few overs at the end. Then there’s Will Jacks, who could unleash his muscle power might on tracks like Wankhede Stadium.
Do have some weaknesses
RCB neither have Wanindu Hasaranga nor Yuzvendra Chahal in their bowling unit which is a big issue. Bowling spin at M Chinnaswamy Stadium is quite difficult and small boundaries don’t help either. Now the bulk of load is on Karn Sharma, who might be in the twilight of his career.
Though, Green will bowl two or three overs, but he has taken a spot of either Alzarri Joseph or Lockie Ferguson, two extremely quick bowlers who may be very effective. Topley is a fantastic bowler, no doubt about it, but his powerplay bowling is much better than his death bowling.
Name of the franchise changed
RCB has adopted the official name of the city that is Bengaluru in place of the anglicized “Bangalore”. The modification was made public on Tuesday, March 19, during the team’s UNBOX event at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The squad will now be known as Royal Challengers Bengaluru. They were known as Royal Challengers Bangalore when the event first started in 2008.
The Indian Premier League franchise is not the first to rebrand as RCB. Three years ago, Kings XI Punjab became the Punjab Kings, and Delhi, which had been the Daredevils, became the Capitals after JSW Group bought the team. An’s’ was removed from the Rising Pune Supergiant team’s name even earlier, in advance of their second and last season in the league.
