Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), still on the hunt for an elusive Indian Premier League (IPL) title, made strategic additions to their squad for the upcoming 2024 season at the Dubai auction on Tuesday.
In a surprising move, RCB secured West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph for Rs. 11.50 crore, aligning with their plan to strengthen the pace attack. The team also brought in New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson, India’s Yash Dayal, and English fast-bowling all-rounder Tom Curran.
Possible RCB Playing XI for RCB in IPL 2024:
- Faf du Plessis (c)
- Virat Kohli
- Rajat Patidar
- Glenn Maxwell
- Cameron Green
- Dinesh Karthik (wk)
- Mahipal Lomror
- Alzarri Joseph
- Mohammed Siraj
- Karn Sharma/Mayank Dagar
- Akash Deep/Yash Dayal
Players acquired at IPL 2024 auction:
- Alzarri Joseph (Rs. 11.50 crore)
- Yash Dayal (Rs. 5 crore)
- Tom Curran (Rs. 1.5 crore)
- Lockie Ferguson (Rs. 2 crore)
- Swapnil Singh (Rs. 20 lakh)
- Saurav Chauhan (Rs. 20 lakh)
RCB IPL 2024 Squad Composition:
- Wicketkeepers: Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik
- Batters: Faf du Plessis (SA), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Suyash Prabhudessai, Saurav Chauhan
- All-rounders: Mahipal Lomror, Glenn Maxwell (AUS), Manoj Bhandage, Tom Curran (ENG), Swapnil Singh, Will Jacks (ENG), Cameron Green (AUS)
- Bowlers: Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Karn Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Reece Topley (ENG), Himanshu Sharma, Alzarri Joseph (WI), Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Yash Dayal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Mayank Dagar.
RCB Strengths:
Once again, RCB is a team known for strong batting, especially at the top. Players like Captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Dinesh Karthik bring a wealth of experience, which can guide the team deep into the playoffs or finals.
The addition of Lockie Ferguson at a reasonable price and Alzarri Joseph strengthens RCB’s fast-bowling department. Andy Flower, the RCB coach, praised the top four batsmen, including Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis, highlighting the power-hitting capability of Cameron Green in the top five. The fitness of key bowler Mohammed Siraj is seen as crucial, and the team is counting on young Indian bowlers to play important roles.
RCB Weaknesses:
RCB faces a challenge in the spin department as they couldn’t find a replacement for Hasaranga. The responsibility now falls on Karn Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Himanshu Sharma, and new addition Saurav Chauhan to fill this crucial role.
Best Buy:
Lockie Ferguson stands out as a great addition, but Alzarri Joseph is considered a potentially decisive player for RCB during the season. Lockie ferguson addition in team can a great impact in RCB playing 11 as he can provide depth in middle over bowling.
Worst Buy:
Tom Curran, not part of England’s plans, is seen as a questionable pick for RCB. Despite being available at his base price, his past IPL performances haven’t been impressive, making him a risky choice. Curran’s limited contributions in both batting and bowling raise concerns about his impact on the team.
