The IPL is right around the corner and has got the cricket fans excited. The IPL had to be halted midway in April as the Coronavirus spread across the country which made it impossible for the BCCI to conduct the tournament. However, the players and staff, and the Board have managed to wait for five months and begin the second half of IPL. In the run-up to the competition, experts have analyzed various situations and player performances. One of the most renowned cricket pundits, Akash Chopra recently gave his verdict on which players shall be retained by RCB.
One of the bombs that he dropped was how Bangalore would not retain Maxwell in the next year’s auction. He supplemented it with his reasoning that RCB would have many options at their disposal and would not likely retain Maxwell. His price makes it unlikely for him to be retained.
Chopra went ahead to declare that the team would definitely retain their skipper, Virat Kohli. His performance over the years has been exceptional and he has captained the team with plenty of dedication. The team shall be banking on their superstar to help them carry on a winning trajectory.
Another sure shot retention that RCB will make without thinking a second time would be South African legend, AB de Villiers. According to Chopra, AB’s talent is a miracle and he remains ageless for the past few years. His performances over the years have remained consistent and top grade. AB has played splendid innings in the last 3-4 seasons when he has salvaged the team from unwinnable situations.
Chopra explained how RCB should use their Right to Match card when it comes to the auctions. He believes that the franchise should use this feature for Padikkal and Yuzvendra Chahal. He believes that the franchise has finally recognized and established a strong core with Kohli, Chahal, Padikkal and De Villers. With these four players as their core, they can build a team for the future.
With RCB performing exceptionally well in the first half of the tournament, expectations are riding high among the fans. The team selection has clicked for the franchise and it is expected that they will stick with the winning combination. The Royal Challengers Bangalore side will play their first match of the second leg of the IPL on 20th September 2021, against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) outfit in Abu Dhabi.
