Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the most popular franchises in IPL, despite never winning any silverware for 13 seasons. RCB have long been regarded as perennial chokers and they will be hoping to get rid of that tag in 2021. Their squad for the upcoming IPL does possess a lot of depth in the fast bowling department, an area where RCB have been exposed over the years. Albeit a decent squad, a few RCB players are not in the best form ahead of IPL 2021. Here we look at five RCB players struggling for form,
5. Adam Zampa
Zampa had a solid BBL and bowled well in the white-ball leg of India’s visit to Australia. But he had mixed fortunes in New Zealand as the Black Caps’ dealt with him comfortably. Zampa did not pick any wickets in the first T-20 versus New Zealand but maintained a good economy. He went for runs in the second T-20 as Guptill and co thrashed him on their way to a huge total.
The fourth game of the series was Zampa’s best outing as he picked up 2/24 in four overs. However, in the next game, he conceded 43 runs in just 2.3 overs as New Zealand clinched the series comfortably.
4. Daniel Sams
The golden arm of BBL ’19, Sams’ International career has not reached the same heights as he is yet to cement a place in Australia’s white-ball squad. He has played only four T-20 International matches so far for Australia and has only four wickets to his name.
In all four games, his economy is north of 10 and his variations which made him famous have not worked effectively in International games. Sams’ was traded by DC to RCB, possibly because of the lack of a left-arm pacer in Bangalore’s squad. His form might not be a huge concern for RCB as he is unlikely to start regularly.
3. Navdeep Saini
A year ago, Saini was the leader of RCB’s pace attack while Siraj drifted in and out of the starting eleven. But fortunes have changed this time as Siraj is likely to start every game after his heroics in Australia while Saini’s bowling has downgraded recently.
Natarajan has been preferred over him in T-20’s while he was very expensive in the ODI series against Australia. In the first game, he conceded 1/83 while in the next he did not pick up a wicket and conceded 70 runs. He was erratic with the ball even in IPL 2020 and could be benched in favour of Harshal Patel on slow tracks.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal has maintained his habit of picking up wickets at crucial junctures but he has been very expensive since IPL. He came on as a concussion substitute and changed the game in the first T-20 versus Australia. But in the next two games, he conceded over 40 runs and picked up only one wicket.
England also played him comfortably in tracks that aided slow bowling and this is a cause of concern for RCB. He also failed to make any impact in the ODI series against Australia and Kuldeep Yadav has been preferred over him in the ongoing series against England.
1. Kyle Jamieson
A few questions were raised when RCB broke the bank to purchase Jamieson in the IPL auction. The major concern was his lack of white-ball experience which could prove to be detrimental in the death overs.
The doubts became true in the T-20 series against Australia as picked up just 1 wicket despite bowling 15 overs. His figures in the series read 1/32, 0/56, 0/38 and 0/49, and he did not provide any indications of a great T-20 bowler. He did show glimpses of his potential with the bat, but that will not be enough to silence his critics.
