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5 Reasons Why RCB Have Enjoyed Greater Success in 2020 | 5 reasons why Royal Challengers Bangalore have been better in IPL 2020

The IPL has been a super competitive league over the years. Despite providing tough contests and fighting hard, some teams are yet to lift the trophy. One of those teams is the high-profile Bangalore based franchise, the Royal Challengers Bangalore. They always promise a lot, but somehow fail to maximize their potential.

But, contrary to this, RCB have done a fabulous job so far this season by winning seven out of 10 games; as a result of which they are currently placed at the 2^nd position in the points table and look all set to qualify for the playoffs. What are the reasons for this major turnaround? Let’s find out.

1. Smartness of the Team Management during the Auction

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In IPL 2019, RCB finished bottom in the points table. So, there were clear issues with them.

You always have to address your problems first in order to solve those. RCB management rightly identified their areas of concerns and hence they were able to go for right players during the auction. They picked a proper opener in Aaron Finch, so that Virat could bat at 3, which ultimately increases the depth of their batting. They were aware of their death bowling woes and therefore they picked Chris Morris who has brilliant numbers bowling at the death overs in the recent past and he adds value with the bat too. They bought Isuru Udana, whose variations could be handy on the two-paced decks of the UAE. When Richardson opted himself out, they picked an extra leggie Adam Zampa, which was a smart buy in my opinion. This shows the smartness of the RCB management lead by Hesson and Katich, who definitely have the ideas to succeed.

2. Success of the Opening Pair

A team always needs a good start from their openers, which plays a vital role in posting a good total while batting first as well as providing a strong base while chasing. If a solid start is provided by the openers, the other batters can play their natural game freely.

If I consider the stats, the average opening partnership of RCB openers in the season 2019 was just 28.78 runs, compared to a healthy 40.5 runs this season so far. Further, it extends to a brilliant 49.28 runs in the seven games they have won. So, the opening pair of Devdutt and Finch has worked well for RCB. Also, they had tried four different opening pairs in the 2019 season, but they have found a settled opening pair at the top this year, which certainly has stabilized their batting order.

Also read: 5 reasons for the downfall of CSK in IPL 2020

3. Excellent death bowling after the return of Chris Morris

If I have to say what the most phenomenal improvement of the current RCB team is, then it has to be their bowling in the final five overs in the past five games, i.e. overs 15-20.

We all know their first choice death overs specialist Chris Morris didn’t start the season owing to some injury issues. But after his comeback to the playing XI, Morris has done tremendously well. The bowling unit of RCB without Morris conceded almost 13 runs per over in the death overs in the first five matches. After the comeback of Morris, they have an exceptional economy of 7.96 at the death. Morris himself has bowled beyond excellence as his figures of 8-0-51-7 at the death suggests. His dot ball percentage is a mind blowing 43.75 in this phase. No wonder why RCB have won four out of five games after the return of Chris Morris.

4. Useful contributions from young Indian Players

As a side is allowed to pick at most four overseas players in a playing XI, they have to possess a good Indian core of players to succeed in the tournament.

In IPL 2020, RCB certainly have got some serious support from their Indian youngsters Devdutt Padikkal, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj. Padikkal has impressed everyone in his very first IPL season. The southpaw has scored 298 runs at a great average of 42.57 in the seven games RCB have won, with three half centuries. Thus, he has provided a solid base alongside Aaron Finch as I have mentioned earlier, which has given the license to Kohli and ABD to play their natural game.

Similarly, Dube has been far better than he was in 2019 and has had his moments as he bowled really well in the game against SRH (3-0-15-2) and played a superb cameo of 27 runs off just 10 balls against MI, which was a really crucial contribution in my opinion. Had he not scored these runs, MI would definitely have chased the total as they went on to tie the game.

Sundar has done a great job with the ball by picking six wickets an outstanding overall economy of 5.61 (contrary to 9.6 in 2018 and 8.22 in 2019) bowling 33 overs so far. He has been used really well in the powerplay by Virat Kohli and has proved himself as his figures of 10-0-51-3 with an exceptional dot-ball percentage of 51.66 in that phase.

Another surprise package has been Mohammed Siraj. Often being ridiculed for his poor economy, Siraj has definitely looked developed as a bowler this year. He has developed his subtle skills and has overall figures of 14-2-110-6; a good economy of 7.86 this year contrary to 9.22, 8.95 and 9.55 in 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. He played a major role in the victory of RCB in their latest face off versus KKR, in which he derailed the KKR top order with a magnificent opening spell. These contributions from the youngsters have been a big positive for RCB this year.

5. Superhuman ABD, King Kohli and Magical Chahal

Although RCB have got considerable support from their openers, Indian youngsters and Chris Morris, their top three trump cards have sparkled their brilliance as they do almost in every season.

ABD has played great hands as their best finisher in the games against SRH (51 off 30), MI (55 off 24), KKR (73 off 33), RR (55 off 22). I assure you, RCB couldn’t have won 7 out of 10 without these priceless contributions. He still is the biggest match winner for RCB with the bat and the way he smashed bowlers like Bumrah and Archer so easily, it was just incredible.

Virat although looked a bit rusty in their initial games, controlled the chase superbly against RR at Abu Dhabi. But, his matured knock against CSK was something extraordinary. He settled the nerves when RCB were struggling in the initial overs and went berserk in the last few overs to remain unbeaten at 90 off 52, which ensured a great finish for RCB and they defended the total successfully.

And what else can I say about Yuzi Chahal? Currently placed at number five in the list of highest wicket takers this season with 15 wickets, Chahal has been the main weapon for RCB. He has provided the important breakthroughs whenever required and thus has proved himself to be the trump card of his team yet again.

Concluding the article, I applaud the way Virat has led the side this time around. His bowling changes and tactics on the field have worked, and he has led from the front with the bat too. RCB are surely looking determined and I won’t be surprised at all if the sentence ‘Ee Sala cup namde’ becomes a reality for RCB in 2020!

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.