Royal Challengers Bangalore team profile

Royal Challengers Bangalore reached the last four in 2010 and lost in the final in 2009. But their previous form has almost no bearing on this tournament as they have retained only a single player - the exciting young Indian batsman Virat Kohli. Essentially, RCB's policy this year has been to discard veterans like Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble while packing the side with youthful batting talent.

Strengths

Though Kallis was the second-highest scorer in IPL3, a strike rate of 115 suggests that he too often stagnated the Bangalore innings, putting pressure on other batsmen. A similar problem was the undoing of Rahul Dravid. This year's batting line-up is more exciting. RCB have signed up two international batsmen at the peak of their powers in AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan. A trio of young Indian batsmen, Saurabh Tiwary, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara should also provide more thrills than the stolid talents of Dravid and Kallis.   

The steely and reliable Zaheer Khan leads the bowling attack, supported by Charl Langeveldt, Dirk Nannes and Daniel Vettori.  There is also the exciting prospect of watching the young Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who was plucked straight out of street cricket, but is rumoured to propel the ball at over 90 mph.  

Weaknesses

The loss of South African Dale Steyn leaves the side short of world-class seam bowlers. Steyn is the world’s most dangerous fast bowler, but he also proved as accurate as any seam bowler in last year’s IPL. Another issue with the bowling is a lack of spin options. In IPL3 the four leading wicket-takers were all spinners and most of the bowlers with economy rates under 7.0 per over were twirlers. Yet RCB have chosen to select only one real specialist spinner, captain Vettori. Though a fine allrounder and an astute leader, Vettori is now in the twilight of his career and prone to injury.

Key men: Virat Kohli, Daniel Vettori

2010 position: Third

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