OPINION
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Possible Starting XI
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What works for RCB?
• In Hasaranga, Bangalore have arguably the finest leg-spinner going around in world cricket. Among the 16 leg-spinners who have picked 30 T20 wickets or more since 2021, Hasaranga’s average (15.3) and strike-rate (14.7) are the second best. He is yet to set the IPL ablaze but it is believed to be a matter of time.
• There are quite a few sides that lack wicket-taking ability with the new ball. That isn’t the case with Bangalore. They hold not one but three decent overseas options in Josh Hazlewood, David Willey and Jason Behrendorff, all capable of making the new ball talk. Pairing any one of them with Mohammad Siraj will frame an efficient powerplay attack.
• Siraj, in fact, works as a great all-phase pacer. In IPL 2021, he maintained an economy of under 8 runs per over across all phases. Like the powerplays, Siraj has a perfect ally for death overs in Harshal Patel. The Purple Cap winner of IPL 2021, Harshal bowled 51 out of his 56 overs post powerplay. In the slog overs, Harshal picked a staggering 21 wickets with an affordable economy of 9.2.
• To cap it off, Bangalore’s finger-spin resources can contribute with the bat. Maxwell, a batting all-rounder can bowl handy off-spinners against left-handers. Shahbaz Ahmed, the left-arm orthodox spinner, deepens the batting resources. There is an extra cushion in Mahipal Lomror.
• Hence, Bangalore’s bowling line-up is a case study for a perfect T20 bowling arsenal: pacers for all phases, an attacking wrist-spinner and both types of finger-spin options, each of whom adds batting value. All of them can be accommodated in the same XI.
• Among more prominent bowlers, Willey over Hazlewood will provide the left-arm variation to the pace attack as well as lengthen their batting resources. With the all-round credentials of Hasranga and Harshal, Bangalore can bat till number 10. That is insane batting depth.
Where RCB might struggle?
• Bangalore lack variety in their batting. For starters, their first-choice opening pair of Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis are both right-handers. They struggle to up the ante against spin. In T20s since 2020, du Plessis has a strike-rate of 110.1 against spin while Kohli lingers at 104.7. It reduces further for both during the powerplay.
• Can they split du Plessis and Kohli? The move looks improbable to start the season with since both have their optimal positions at the opening slot. du Plessis has batted 65 out of his 95 IPL innings as an opener while Kohli’s regression against spin means he should be starting against pace to get a head start.
• The monotonicity of right-handers runs through their line-up. All their big players - du Plessis, Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik - are right-handers. The left-handers in the probable first-choice XI are all yet to make a mark in the IPL circuit and hence, don’t pose any threat on paper.
• In addition to du Plessis and Kohli’s struggle to bludgeon spin, Karthik averages only 15.8 against spinners since 2020. It allows the opposition to target Bangalore with left-arm orthodox spin and leg breaks. Glenn Maxwell is their only batter of proven quality who can take on the tweakers with conviction. Reliability on one player has never served well in this two-month long tournament.
• These shortcomings against spin make death overs a significant phase of batting for Bangalore. They signed Dinesh Kartik at the auction. He has a strike-rate of 175.4 while averaging 32.9 in the last five overs in IPL 2018 onwards. Karthik has the credentials to be a finisher but might also be the lone warrior in the role. The AB de Villiers-sized void might just be shoes too big to fill.
• du Plessis’ appointment as captain compromises Bangalore’s flexibility with their overseas combination.
• Maxwell and Hasaranga are indispensable to the side. Hazlewood, Willey and Behrendorff can be swapped with each other but one of them should play in an ideal setup. du Plessis is the skipper. Thus, the scope to play the left-hander Sherfane Rutherford or an attacking opener in Finn Allen reduces considerably. The aforementioned batting concerns suggest they might need their services.
• The Australian trio of Maxwell, Behrendorff and Hazlewood is expected to miss the first week of the season due to various reasons.
