IPL 2019: Can Virat Kohli inspire RCB to break their title jinx? - SWOT Analysis

IPL 2019: RCB have made a few smart acquisitions this year and with Kohli and de Villiers being the fulcrum at the top of the order, they can well be the side to watch out for.

On paper, Royal Challengers Bangalore could have won all the IPL seasons so far. On paper, their side look to be world-beaters, loaded with explosive batsmen at the top, who on their day can bludgeon opposition bowlers into submission, but then, once they step out on the field, and once the top order is controlled, they have fumbled and faded away.

File image of Virat Kohli. (AFP)

RCB, one of the most fanatically followed IPL sides, have assembled a far more balanced squad this season. The captain has acknowledged the fact that decision making in crunch situations has not been their forte in the previous seasons, a trait, which can be improved this year.

A firing Virat Kohli, a rejuvenated AB de Villiers and strength in the middle order - RCB, like always, have the personnel to get the job done, will they make the right decisions this year?

Strengths

1) Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers: They form the top three in the batting order and more often than not bat through the middle overs, where RCB have been at their prolific best in recent years.

2) Middle overs domination: Often they start slowly, and with wickets in hand, dominate in the middle overs. Since 2015, their average run rate in the middle overs is 8.42, which is the highest for all teams during the period.

3) Yuzvendra Chahal factor: The leggie, in his own unflustered way, carries on getting the job done without too much bluster. He has been, by far, the most successful wrist spinner in the IPL with 70 wickets in 54 games.

Weakness

1) Vulnerable middle order: Successful IPL sides have a solid Indian core. For RCB, this might not be the case. After Kohli and de Villiers, they do not have a reliable Indian batsman in the middle order who can be a sure starter in all the games.

2) Dearth of bowling options: Over the years, the lack of attacking bowling options in the middle phase has proved to be detrimental for the side. At Chinnaswamy, where defending totals is not an easy job, Kohli is left with few options to choose from when he needs to control the game.

3) 5th bowler: The side has all-rounders in their roster, but then can they be looked as a proper 5th bowling option? This could once again be a problem for the skipper when the pressure is amped and when he wants to control the game.

Opportunities

Can their break their title jinx? They have the arsenal and support, they have the quality in their ranks, and they have players, who can win them games all by their own. Do they have the belief they can cross the final hurdle after stumbling thrice?

Threat

Losing momentum early in the league can be sapping for many sides, more so in this format where a team can slip into a rut after a string of early losses. This is what Virat Kohli and Gary Kirsten have to guard against.

Prediction

They have made a few smart acquisitions this year. With Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers manning the top order, the all-round credentials of Marcus Stoinis could solve Kohli’s headache of a match-winning all-rounder. If they get off the blocks quickly, a playoff spot could well be waiting for the side!