Opinion
Royal Challengers Bangalore winning back the services of all of Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Yuzi Chahal and Harshal Patel is unlikely.
Therefore, the assumption is they will only bring two of them back and I have gone with Paddikal and Sundar.
1. Devdutt Padikkal
Many commentators and pundits had named Devdutt Padikkal as a potential retention option for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The youngster not only showed great potential, but he also achieved the emerging player of the tournament award in 2020.
He was a result of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s own talent scouting and along with Virat Kohli, he made Royal Challengers Bangalore’s opening better.
He also proved that Royal Challengers Bangalore does best with Indian openers and that is the model they will try to replicate in the auctions.
Alternatives: Shubman Gill and Shikhar Dhawan.
2. Virat Kohli
While Virat Kohli may have given up the captaincy in the T20 format, he is still one of the best players around and there is good cricketing logic to still continue as an opener as you want your best batsman to face the maximum number of balls.
Therefore, there is good reason to think they will persist with Kohli as an opener and perhaps he will be even more dangerous without the captaincy burden.
Alternatives: N/A as retained
(Photo credit should read SAJJAD HUSSAIN/AFP/Getty Images)
3. KS Bharat (wicketkeeper)
While his addition was late, he showed great instincts both as a batsman and a wicketkeeper.
As a potentially quality Indian domestic batsman, he gives Royal Challengers Bangalore that rare commodity and with age on his side, he becomes a long-term selection option for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Alternatives: Mohammed Azharuddeen and Dinesh Karthik
4. Glenn Maxwell
A great all-rounder option, his retention after his performance in the UAE was a bit of a no brainer, especially after the retirement of AB de Villers.
However, it is to be noted that his better performances both in 2014 and 2021 came in the UAE and he has struggled in Indian conditions.
Alternatives: N/A as retained
Glenn Maxwell (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP/Getty Images)
5. Eoin Morgan (captain)
Eoin Morgan’s form may be in question but there is no doubt that he led Kolkata Knight Riders brilliantly in the second half to their path of the final.
Morgan’s tactics are puzzling but somehow he ends up on the winning side more often than not and that is something that Royal Challengers Bangalore could use when they look for their next captain.
While Kohli would provide that aggression, Morgan can provide that.
Alternatives: Faf du Plessis and Aaron Finch (as opening options and pushing Kohli to number three)
6. Washington Sundar
Surprisingly enough, this name is not as much in the media as it should be, regardless of whether he is in the spotlight or not.
7. Kyle Jamieson
A bowling option who can bat is what Royal Challengers Bangalore seem to have liked over the past few years.
Jamieson has performed that role. That seemed to be working well for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
He may not be in prime demand and if Royal Challengers Bangalore can get him back for a cheap price, they can continue with that model that they adopted in the past couple of their more successful years.
Alternatives: Sam Curran and Chris Woakes
8. Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa and Royal Challengers Bangalore have a very weird relationship that seems to just work fine.
Zampa is Australia’s strike spinner in white-ball cricket and Royal Challengers Bangalore have traditionally kept him on the benches due to Chahal and Sundar in the side.
But somehow, when he did play, he performed well. And with Chahal unlikely to come back to Royal Challengers Bangalore because he will be far too expensive, a now experienced Zampa might just be that strike spinner for a long time to come.
Alternatives: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanindu Hasaranga and Mitchell Santner
Adam Zampa. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images for ECB)
9. Mohammed Siraj
Now a regular of the Indian Test bowling attack, he has also drastically improved his stakes in white-ball cricket.
Therefore, his retention made sense and it is something that Royal Challengers Bangalore will hope to maximise.
Alternatives: N/A as retained
10. Kagiso Rabada
A quality overseas pacer to complement Siraj is what Royal Challengers Bangalore will be looking for.
After Delhi released Kagiso Rabada, he is someone who Royal Challengers Bangalore will have eyes on because of the sheer quality he brings, especially on Indian pitches.
There is every reason to believe that Royal Challengers Bangalore will bid for him.
Alternatives: Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Starc (should he be in the auction)
(Photo by Steve Haag/Getty Images)
11. Thangarasu Natarajan
Natarajan’s yorker to take out a flaming AB de Villlers in the 2020 eliminator was arguably one of the most memorable balls of the IPL in general.
He specialised in one particular skill: that was to use the yorker as per his will and he showed he had more variations in international cricket.
While injuries kept him out in 2021, there is every reason to believe that he will attract interest, especially as a left-handed Indian fast bowler.
Alternatives: Chetan Sakarya and Khaleel Ahmed
P.S. This article is dedicated to my Royal Challengers Bangalore-supporting childhood friend who I crossed paths with again this year after a decade.
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