IPL 2023: Can RCB capitalize at home in the first half of the Season

IPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) return to their home ground after three seasons. Faf du Plessis led RCB will play six of their seven home games in April due to the general elections scheduled in Karnataka in May.

Where RCB Finished in IPL 2022

RCB finished fourth in the group phase with eight wins and six losses. They then went on to defeat Lucknow Super Giants in the eliminator, courtesy of Rajat Patidar’s match winning century, the fastest hundred by an Indian in IPL history. RCB then lost to the runner up of the season Rajasthan Royals in qualifier 2. Their quest for the maiden IPL title continues.

RCB Squad for IPL 2023

Batsman –  Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar, Finn Allen (wk), Anuj Rawat (wk), Dinesh Karthik (wk)

All-rounders – GlennMaxwell, Micheal Bracewell, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Shahbaz Ahmed, Manoj Bhandage, Mahipal Lomror, Sonu Yadav

Bowlers – Josh Hazlewood, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, Avinash Singh, Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Himanshu Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, Akashdeep, Rajan Kumar

Injury concerns looming ahead of the season

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s premium fast bowler Josh Hazlewood tore his Achilles in January and flew home midway through the Border Gavaskar Trophy in February. The Aussie fast bowler’s fitness will be monitored by Cricket Australia. Australia are set to play World Test Championship and Ashes after the end of IPL in May.

Will Jacks has been ruled out of IPL due to injury. Jacks was considered as the backup for Glenn Maxwell. The England all-rounder is now been replaced by New Zealander Michael Bracewell.

New Players part of the Squad ahead of IPL 2023

RCB signed left arm pacer Reece Topley as a backup bowler. If Josh Hazlewood misses out then Topley will have to step up as the team’s premium bowler. The team also signed Jammu & Kashmir’s fast bowler Avinash Singh. The pacer can bowl at 150 kph. Sonu Yadav is another exciting all rounder signed by the team.

RCB bowling attack lacks depth

Over the year’s bowling has been a major issue for RCB. Harshal Patel and Mohmmad Siraj are the two Indian fast bowlers part of the squad alongside Foreign reserves of Reece Topley & David Willey. The bowling attack lacks depth as there is no primary backup option available for Harshal Patel and Mohmmad Siraj.

Good form of Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli a huge positive for RCB

Glenn Maxwell broke his leg in an accident back in November. “The Big Show” has returned to competitive cricket in February and has looked in good form. Virat Kohli has also returned to form ending his 1000 plus days century drought by scoring centuries in Asia Cup, leading the run scorers chart in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and scoring his much awaited century in test matches against Australia. Kohli will also be back at his favorite ground. His performance will be key for RCB in IPL 2023 as they play six home games in the first half of the season.

IPL 2023: RCB Home Games Schedule

IPL 2023: RCB Complete League Stage Schedule