RCB look to plug major holes

The ownership pattern has changed, coaching staff has been replaced, the men who make the big decisions are different. Even their logo sports a new look, but one thing that has remained constant with the Royal Challengers Bangalore is their shopping reversals at IPL Players' Auctions.

Every year they enter the auction room with their plans, they come out looking happy with their buys but the assets end up looking liabilities as the tournament progresses. With another failed experiment, RCB off-load most of the players.

In keeping with their recurring theme, the Bengaluru franchise released 10 players prior to this year’s auction, including the likes of Chris Morris, Aaron Finch, Moeen Ali, Isuru Udana, Dale Steyn and Shivam Dube -- all roped in with high hopes. Now, RCB enter the fray with Rs 35.40 crore, the second highest purse behind Punjab Kings, hoping to correct the anomalies of the past and piece together a winning squad.

The Challengers’ focus will be on strengthening three major areas: finding a reliable top-order batsman, an explosive lower middle-order batsman cum all-rounder and a death-over specialist.

For the top-order, RCB will be training their eyes on England’s Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Australia’s Steve Smith and West Indies' Evin Lewis. Roy, Hales and Malan have proven their destructive capabilities with the England limited-overs sides while Smith, despite his modest returns in the IPL, is vastly experienced which could help skipper Virat Kohli in decision making. Lewis, with a sizzling strike rate of 155.41 in T20s and two centuries, hasn’t fired in the IPL but gambling on him could end up as a masterstroke for RCB.

Late-bloomer Malan is also another option worth exploring for RCB. A consistent performer for Middlesex and England in T20Is, the southpaw is yet to play IPL but if presented a chance, the bludgeoning opener, the No. 1 batsman in T20Is with a strike rate of 150, can provide RCB explosive starts.

Over the years, RCB have generally been top-heavy batting side, rarely able to get a player in the likes of Hardik Pandya or Kieron Pollard who can turn the game on its head with their late fireworks. Potential targets could be Shakib Al Hasan, Glenn Maxwell, rebidding for Chris Morris and Moeen Ali or investing in home players like K Gowtham, Kedar Jadhav and Shahrukh Khan.

Shakib is one of the top all-rounders in the world while Maxwell, despite his IPL statistics being such a letdown, is a seasoned performer. Both are utility spinners and can provide depth in the bowling department.

Gowtham’s performances have dipped over the last couple of years but the Karnataka off-spinner can be dangerous on his day. Shahrukh has been giving good glimpses of his talent on the domestic circuit and many in Tamil Nadu see a bright future for the big-hitting spinning all-rounder.

RCB’s Achilles Heel has been bowling at the death which has cost them many games over the years. A few options ahead of them are Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman and New Zealand's Kyle Jamieson.