Royal Challengers Bangalore were finalists in 2009, 2011 and 2016 but barring those three seasons they have suffered some inauspicious lows and middling runs, writes Kislaya Srivastava.
Royal Challengers Bangalore profile
Captain: Virat Kohli
Home ground: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Owners: Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited
Past results: 2018: 6th; 2017: 8th; 2016: Finalists; 2015: Play-offs; 2014: 7th; 2013: 5th; 2012: 5th; 2011: Finalists; 2010: Play-offs; 2009: Finalists; 2008: 7th
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He may have retired from international cricket but AB’s popularity in India and especially in Bangalore is unlikely to have taken a hit. With more than 7,000 runs in the shortest format and a strike rate that touches 150, de Villiers will be the wicket to get for the opposition. He averaged 53.33 and struck the ball at 174.54 in IPL 2018 and is just 47 short of 4000 IPL runs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Squad
Virat Kohli (c), Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Colin de Grandhomme, AB de Villiers, Shivam Dube, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Shimron Hetmyer, Himmat Singh, Kulwant Khejroliya, Heinrich Klaasen, Milind Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Pawan Negi, Devdutt Padikkal, Parthiv Patel, Prayas Ray Burman, Navdeep Saini, Tim Southee, Marcus Stoinis, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav
Prediction
Just missing the play-offs. Bangalore have always had the riches but have never quite been able to live up to the expectations that come with those riches. In a highly competitive league, it could be a bit extravagant for the Kohli-led side to aim for the title right from the outset.
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