Royal Challengers Bangalore will kick-off IPL 2024 with their match against Chennai Super Kings on March 22. Here is a preview of RCB for IPL 2024, including team news, injury updates, and probable playing XIs for home and away matches along with potential impact players.

RCB are yet to win the IPL. They have qualified for the finals three times, but have not been able to go past the final hurdle. Last season, they came close to qualifying for the playoffs before a Shubman Gill hundred snatched an Eliminator spot away from them.

While they have retained the core of their squad from IPL 2023, some additions here and there make RCB look stronger on paper. Whether they can translate it into a championship winning campaign or not, has to be seen.

Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for IPL 2024

* new buys in the auction/trade window.

Batters

Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Saurav Chauhan*

Wicketkeepers

Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat

All-rounders

Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green*, Suyash Prabhudessai, Mayank Dagar*, Manoj Bhandage, Will Jacks, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Tom Curran*, Swapnil Singh*

Bowlers

Mohammed Siraj, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Reece Topley, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Akash Deep, Alzarri Joseph*, Yash Dayal*, Lockie Ferguson*

RCB schedule for IPL 2024

Schedule for only the first 21 matches of IPL 2024 have been announced so far.

March 22: Chennai Super Kings v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Friday, 7.30pm, Chennai
March 25: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Punjab Kings, Monday, 7.30pm, Bengaluru
March 29: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders, Friday, 7.30pm, Bengaluru
April 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Lucknow Super Giants, Tuesday, 7.30pm, Bengaluru
April 6: Rajasthan Royals v Royal Challengers Bangalore, Saturday, 7.30pm, Jaipur

All timings local

RCB in IPL 2024: Team news and injury updates

Kohli had a fantastic season last year, combining with du Plessis to make a solid opening combination. RCB would hope that they can provide more of the same solidity this year as they have a strong and powerful middle order now, with Green’s arrival.

RCB will hope that Karthik, playing his final season, finds the kind of form he had in IPL 2022 and is able to finish games for them. Spin will be a bit of a concern after they let go of Wanindu Hasaranga, but with the acquisition of three quality seamers – Joseph, Dayal, and Ferguson – RCB’s pace battery is looking strong. Luckily for them, they aren’t plagued by a lot of injuries at the moment.

Royal Challengers Bangalore probable XIs with Impact player options

At home

Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj, Vijaykumar Vyshak.

Impact player options: Yash Dayal, Akash Deep, Mayank Dagar.

The focus will be on going all out with the bat and bowling seam in Bengaluru, with the occasional surface the grips forcing RCB to go with three spin options. On the average Chinnaswamy surface, however, two spinners (including Maxwell) should suffice. For the main spinner’s role, RCB can switch between Karn and Dagar depending on form.

Away:

Probable XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Karn Sharma, Mayank Dagar, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj.

Impact player options: Yash Dayal, Akash Deep, Vijaykumar Vyshak.

On spin-friendly surfaces, RCB can start with three spinners and get the fourth seamer (counting Green as one) in as an Impact player. They can also try getting Jacks to open alongside du Plessis and play Kohli at No.3 with the bowling attack bearing an all-Indian look if their Indian batters don’t fire.

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