Expected Lineup for RCB - IPL

This time RCB looked good in the auction and have strengthened their bowling lineup with plenty of options not only for this season but for next three years as well till the next big auction takes place.They have got good youngsters in Navdeep and Kulwant who had a good season for Delhi in Ranji trophy.They have got Siraj and have really strengthened their spin department with the likes of Washington Sundar, Negi ,Murugan Ashwin alongwith chahal.Each of these was a part of playing 11 in their respective franchises last year. Nevertheless,there are some worries like a middle order batsman and form of de Kock.

Once again, the batting looks spot on for RCB, but this time, they have worked equally well on their bowling unit too, and have also gone with 3–4 foreign all-rounders. They have formed a pretty decent squad, out of which here is my Playing XI for them in the first few matches:

1. Parthiv Patel (WK): An explosive opener, who can score runs quickly and turn the game away from the opposition in a span of just a few overs. A fine keeper as well.
2. Brendon McCullum: Another powerful batsman from New Zealand, also pretty successful in the IPL. Hard hitting and an explosive opening batsman.
3. Virat Kohli (Captain): Do I need to say something?
4. AB De Villiers: One of the best in the business in world cricket. Another explosive batsman, will be crucial in the team's success.
5. Mandeep Singh: A decent batsman in the middle order. Capable of knocking the ball here and there and scoring runs in the middle overs against spinners. Can also finish games.
6. Sarfaraz Khan: Mini ABD. Plays shots all around the wicket. Will be the main finisher for RCB.
7. Chris Woakes: Will be the overseas all-rounder. A fine bowler, and handy with the bat as well.
8. Washington Sundar: Talented, young bowling all-rounder. Bowled a great spell in the IPL Final last year against Mumbai Indians.
9. Nathan Coulter-Nile: Australian pacer. Hits the deck hard, a wicket-taker.
10. Yuzvendra Chahal: Virat Kohli's go to bowler every time. Capable of bowling in the power-play overs, middle overs and also the death overs. Highly skilled leg spinner.
11. Umesh Yadav: Has to work a little on his economy, other than that, another fine bowler. Capable of taking wickets as well.

There may be changes in the squad, Colin de Grandhomme may come in place of Woakes at times, if Woakes goes out of form. Quinton de Kock is another back-up opener and wicket-keeping option, instead of Parthiv. Manan Vohra can come in place of McCullum if he goes out of form as well. Siraj can be a replacement for Yadav. There are quite a many options for the Virat Kohli led side, which means, they did well in the auctions this year!

RCB Squad: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Chris Woakes, Yuzvendra Singh Chahal, Umesh Yadav, Brendon McCullum, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Quinton De Kock, Mohammed Siraj, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Colin De Grandhomme, M. Ashwin, Parthiv Patel, Moeen Ali, Mandeep Singh, Manan Vohra, Pawan Negi, Tim Southee, Kulwant Khejroliya, Aniket Choudhary, Pavan Deshpande, Anirudha Ashok Joshi.