Royal Challengers Bangalore’s search for maiden IPL trophy has continued even after 16 years. Despite boasting big names throughout the league’s history, RCB has consistently been an underperforming side. RCB fans will be hoping for a successful IPL season in 2024.
Ahead of the Auction, RCB had released 11 players including their long-serving players like Harshal Patel and Wanindu Hasaranga. On the other hand, they had retained their major players Faf du Pessis, Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, and Dinesh Karthik. In the auction for the 2024 season, RCB roped in 6 players, with Alzarri Joseph emerging as their most expensive pick at 11.50 Crore.
Notably, their priciest addition for the season was Cameron Green, acquired through a trade with Mumbai Indians for a hefty sum of 17.50 Crore rupees. Mayank Dagar is another name that the Bangalore-based franchise has roped in a trade deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
RCB Squad for IPL 2024 Auction: Retained – Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar. Bought at Auction – Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Saurav Chauhan. Traded In – Cameron Green and Mayank Dagar.
The current squad of RCB comprises 25 players. Let’s create the best playing XI out of this pool of players.
RCB’s Strongest Playing XI for IPL 2024
1. Faf du Plessis (c)
The South Africa batter has retained the captaincy. He will be leading the RCB side for the third straight season. In 2022, under Plessis, RCB made it to the playoffs. However, in the last season they fell two points short to book the playoff berth and ended the season in 6th position. He has been the definition of ‘captain leading from the front’ as with 730 runs he remained the highest run-scorer for RCB last season.
2. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli will play his straight 17th season for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. He is an automatic pick in RCB playing XI. He had an outstanding season in 2023, aggregating 639 runs with two centuries. The former RCB captain is set to open with Faf du Plessis in IPL 2024.
3. Rajat Patidar
The Madhya Pradesh-born batter had missed the entire IPL 2023 season due to injury. In his absence, Mahilpal Lomror was given the no.3 role. However, in 12 games, Lomror scored only 135 runs with an average of 16.88. On the other hand, Rajat Patidar had a dream season in IPL 2022. At the no.3 position for RCB, Patidar had scored 333 runs in just 8 games. Both Patidar and Lomror have been retained by RCB but the former will be the first choice for the no.3 position.
4. Glenn Maxwell
Since joining RCB in 2021, Maxwell’s declining IPL career has shown a spike. In three seasons for them, he has scored 1214 runs including 12 half-centuries. He has also remained handy with the bat. With the kind of form Glenn Maxwell has shown in the recently concluded World Cup, he is undoubtedly an automatic selection in the RCB playing XI for the IPL 2024 season
5. Cameron Green
Trading in Cameron Green is probably the best decision the Challengers have taken ahead of the IPL 2024 season. His inclusion will provide RCB with the balance that it needs for a long time. Since Shane Watson, RCB has always struggled to find a standout fast-bowling all-rounder, and Cameron Green is expected to fill his shoes.
6. Dinesh Karthik (wk)
Dinesh Karthik had a forgettable season in 2023, he averaged just 11 in the 13 games he played. However, for one last time, the franchise has invested faith in the 38-year-old keeper-batter given his experience. Anuj Rawat is another talented keeper-batter in the squad but expectations lean towards Dinesh Karthik being given preference when RCB forms their strongest playing XI for IPL 2024.
7. Mayank Dagar
RCB has traded Shahbaz Nadeem to Sunrisers Hyderabad in exchange for Mayank Dagar. Shahbaz was a regular member of RCB’s playing XI. Dagar has played just 3 matches in his IPL career but. he has been the first-choice off-spinner for the Himachal Pradesh domestic team. He can also score some crucial runs down the order.
8. Karn Sharma
Having been part of the IPL since 2009, Karn Sharma is one of the most experienced leg-spinners in the league. After parting ways with Yuzvendra Chahal, RCB has entrusted Karn Sharma with the role of their primary leg-spinner.
9. Alzarri Joseph
Back in 2019, Alzarri Joseph made a dream IPL debut with Mumbai Indians. In the match against SRH, he had taken 6 wickets, conceding just 12 runs. To date, this spell remains the best bowling figures for any bowler in IPL history. However, Joseph hasn’t replicated this exceptional performance consistently since his debut. In his first 19 IPL matches, he has taken 20 wickets.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt about the West Indies pacer’s talent, and there is a reason why RCB has acquired him, spending 11.50 crore. He has recently performed brilliantly for his national team, and RCB hopes, he continues this form in the IPL 2024.
10. Mohammad Siraj
Siraj has been RCB’s go-to pacer from past three IPL seasons. The franchise had picked him in the IPL 2018 Auction and since then they have constantly invested faith in him by retaining him season after season. In fact, in 2022, ahead of the mega auction, he was among RCB’s 3 retained players alongside Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell. Which shows he has become an integral part of this team. In 2024, Siraj will lead RCB’s bowling unit.
11. Yash Dayal
Yash Dayal is an example of the notion that ‘one over can’t decide your talent.’ He had conceded five sixes in a row against Rinku Singh in the IPL 2023, but after the horrific setback, he made a brilliant comeback. RCB rewarded him for his good performance in the domestic season by acquiring him for 5 crore. Not to forget, he was brilliant in Gujarat Titans’ title-winning season in 2022.