Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to end their IPL trophy drought this season. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have been sensational for RCB for the last two seasons.
Both featured in a four-century partnership for the opening wicket and a century-run partnership for 2nd wicket. These two provided flying starts for RCB in IPL 2023 with 148 runs stand against Mumbai Indians, 137 runs partnership against Punjab Kings, and 172 partnerships against Sunrisers Hyderabad that helped RCB register victories.
Kohli showed his class with 639 runs in IPL 2023 with 2 centuries while captain Faf du Plessis scored 730 runs from 15 matches including eight half-centuries but could not help RCB to qualify for the playoffs.
Kohli and du Plessis performed brilliantly as the opening pair for RCB. RCB depends on the top order to click and lead them to victory.
Here we look at the three options that RCB could try in IPL 2024.
- Virat Kohli and Cameron Green
Cameron Green has been traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore from Mumbai Indians at a whopping price of 17.50 Crore. Green showed his in the T20I format on Indian pitches with 61 off 30 deliveries in Mohali and then 52 off 21 balls during the series that was played in 2022.
Virat Kohli proved his worth as an opener and plays according to the situation taking singles and boundaries. If Cameron Green comes top of the order, then it would help Virat Kohli to play accordingly. Australian batter showed his class with a match-winning 174 in the first innings against New Zealand and helped Australia post 383.
Green can use the field restrictions and put the bowlers under immense pressure with explosive batting along with Virat Kohli.
- Faf du Plessis and Will Jacks
Captain Faf du Plessis and Will Jacks could open the innings while moving down Virat Kohli to number 3 along with hard-hitting England all-rounder Will Jacks. Jacks has been in sensational form of late in the T20 format and will be interesting to see if Bangalore utilized him.
The main challenge for RCB him to fit Jacks in the playing XI as one of the four overseas options. He could be an X-factor for RCB with his batting and bowling abilities. Jacks smashed an unbeaten 108 off 53 balls for Comila Victorians in BPL match last month.
Jacks would look to make use of the good batting conditions in India. Both Faf and Jacks could be a deadly combination that RCB could try this season.
- Virat Kohli and Anuj Rawat
Anuj Rawat featured for Royal Challengers Bangalore lower down the order last year. He played some cameos that helped RCB recover and post good totals. Rawat had a disappointing 2022 IPL season with just 129 runs from 8 matches. After a string of low scores, Rawat was dropped from the playing XI.
Rawat has been retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise for IPL 2024. As Faf du Plessis is struggling with age, RCB must start looking for an opener. Both Virat Kohli and Rawat could provide stability which could be a success.
Despite Rawat’s inability to hit big shots, Kohli and Rawat could be another option for RCB that they can try as an opening combination in IPL 2024.
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