This article is part of our IPL Preview series.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of the most followed franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), not necessarily because of the results on the field but because of the star-studded lineup. The franchise is owned by Indian businessmen Vijay Mallya and was the second-most expensive team bought during the initial bidding process in the year 2007-08.
The team is led by star batsman Virat Kohli, who will have the coaching assistance of former Indian World Cup winning coach Gary Kirsten. However, even after having so many star names over the years, RCB is one of the three franchises who are yet to lift the IPL trophy. In the 2018 edition of the competition, RCB finished on the sixth position with six wins out of 14 played. Therefore, the team from Bangalore will have a lot of pressure once again to deliver and finally bring the trophy back home.
By the look of the squad composition, RCB will be relying heavily on all-rounders as they've the likes of England's Moeen Ali, New Zealand's Colin de Grandhomme, Australia Marcus Stoinis and Washington Sundar, all of whom who can contribute with both bat and ball in hand. In the batting department, the team will be relying on the star power of captain Kohli, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, young West Indian sensation Shimron Hetmyer, wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel and young Gurkeerat Singh Mann to score bulk of the runs.
On the bowling front, the team management will be relying on the likes of pacers Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Siraj, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Tim Southee and spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Pawan Negi to produce timely breakthroughs which can help the team in achieving the desired results.
Key Facts
RCB's highest total of 263-5 came in the match against Pune Warriors in the season 2013, whereas their lowest score of 49 came in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017. Highest score of 232-2 against RCB was registered by Kings XI Punjab in 2011 season, whereas lowest score of 58 while playing against RCB was registered by Rajasthan Royals in the 2009 season.
RCB's biggest win in terms of runs came in the match against Gujrat Lions in the 2016 season where they emerged victorious by 144 runs, whereas their biggest defeat in terms of runs came in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2008 season where they were thrashed by 140 runs.
Highest individual score of 175 not out for RCB was registered by West Indies explosive opener Chris Gayle in the match against Pune in the 2013 edition, whereas highest individual score of 158 not out against RCB was registered by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum while representing KKR in the inaugural edition. Captain Kohli holds the record for most number of runs (973) scored by an RCB player in a single season which he did in the 2016 edition of the competition, whereas Kohli also holds the record for most runs (5,372) scored by any RCB player in the history of IPL.
Former Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble holds the record for best bowling figures (5-5) in a match for RCB, whereas pacer Vinay Kumar holds the record for most wickets (23) in a single season for the franchise. Leg-spinner Chahal holds the record for most number of wickets (82) by any RCB bowler in the IPL history.
