Royal Challengers Bangalore had a disappointing 2018 edition of IPL finishing 6th in the points table with 6 wins and 8 loses. Most of the runs were scored by their star players Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. They picked new players but could not perform according to the expectations.
RCB have never an IPL title once since its inception in 2008. With the way they performed this season, in the next edition of IPL, Virat Kohli led franchise would be thinking of dropping some of the poor performers which did not take the charge.
Here we look at the 5 players who might be dropped from RCB in 2019
- Sarfaraz Khan
In the 2018 IPL auction, apart from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, RCB management decided to retain young batsman Sarfaraz Khan over Chris Gayle. He disappointed in the 2018 IPL scoring just 51 runs from 7 matches. His best score in the tournament was 22*. RCB franchise had to pay as Sarfaraz Khan was not able to score big runs. He did not play full matches and was dropped from the playing XI due to inconsistent performances.
With the way he performed this season, RCB thinks of dropping him from the team and bring some new face.
- Brendon McCullum
One of the best T20 players in the world, Brendon McCullum was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise at INR 3.60. He failed to deliver for RCB franchise scoring just 127 runs from 6 matches with an average of 21.16.
His best score in the tournament was just 43 against Kolkata Knight Riders on 8th April 2018. Brendon McCullum due to his poor was dropped from playing XI and then sat on the bench in the latter half of the tournament.
- Washington Sundar
The young right arm off spinner Washington Sundar was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise for 3.20 Crores. He was superb in the Nidahas T20 tri-series involving Sri Lanka and Bangladesh this year.
He bowled brilliantly in the 2017 IPL playing Rising Pune Supergiants as a replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin. Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling was their weak link but the off-spinner disappointed with the ball taking 4 wickets from 7 matches at an economy of 9.60 runs per over. His best figures in the tournament were 2/22.
He was dropped from RCB playing XI and never got a chance. Sundar scored just 65 runs from 7 matches with the best score of 35. With the way he performed, RCB is likely to drop him in 2019.
- Pawan Negi
In the 2018 IPL auction, RCB used the right to match card and got back Pawan Negi. In the 2017 edition, Negi took 16 wickets from 12 matches bowling with a decent economy of 6.12 runs per over.
Pawan Negi could not perform for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. He played only 2 matches and picked 1 wicket with an expensive economy of 12.25 runs. With the bat, he scored 3 runs. He could be dropped from RCB in the next season.
- Chris Woakes
The right arm England fast bowler was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise for INR 7.40 Crores. In the 2017 edition of IPL, he did a good job for Kolkata Knight Riders picking up 18 wickets from 13 matches.
He disappointed with his bowling skills picking up just 8 wickets from 5 matches with an economy of 10.36 runs per over. Chris Woakes also disappointed with the bat scoring 17 runs from 5 matches with the best score of 11. With the way he performed this season, the England all-rounder could be dropped by RCB.