Best chance for Kohli to end wait

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE have arguably the most balanced squad despite not retaining Chris Gayle and the India captain can look to replicate his success with the national side

NEW DELHI: The Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore are regarded as the most glamorous outfit in the Indian Premier League, but they also carry the tag of underachievers for all the wealth of talent they have had down the ten years.

One of only five teams to have played all 10 seasons – Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab are the others – they are yet to win a title.

They did come close thrice, finishing runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016, and were also third in two editions.

Also Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle have been the batting trinity in the side, being batting-heavy has hurt them, especially at the Chinnaswamy Stadium where a good pitch and short boundaries have exposed their bowling if the batting unit was reined in.

IPL 2018 has the potential to change all the past disappointments. In 2017, both Kohli as well as de Villiers missed the early stages of the league due to injuries. The ultra-competitive India skipper did return, but watched the side plunge to finish last.

This season, RCB arguably have the most balanced squad they ever had. A solid bowling unit, all-rounders and batsmen apart, they also have the bench strength in all departments.

Aussie pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile is out due to fitness issues, but it gives a great chance for Umesh Yadav to take on the bowling leader’s role, especially after Kohli did not give the country’s fastest bowler a game on the South Africa tour.

“Umesh has been excellent in the last two seasons, but he didn’t get a chance after Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah started well in the Test series. It only shows the competition in India for pace bowling slots,” said Ashish Nehra, the new bowling coach of the team.

Chris Woakes, Corey Anderson will lead the pace charge while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and young Washington Sundar can live up to the status of what Nehra called a ‘complete bowling unit’.