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After many editions, Royal Challengers Bangalore finally gathered a nearly balanced team in the fourteenth edition of the IPL as they managed to tick all boxes in the season. The addition of Glenn Maxwell made sure that the Virat Kohli-led franchise made it into the playoffs for consecutive seasons. Just when the team looked settled after years, BCCI introduced the mega auction to change the entire scenario ahead of the fifteenth edition of the cash rich league.
All existing teams are only allowed to retain a maximum of 4 players. All the franchises are expected to use all of their 4 retention choices in order to build their roster around them in the fifteenth edition as there would be more competition with 2 new teams. So, who are the four vital clogs that RCB will cling onto?
Top 4 players RCB can retain in IPL 2022
1. Virat Kohli
One of the best batters to have ever represented the franchise, Virat Kohli has to be the first retention choice for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Not only has he represented the Red Army since the inaugural season, but has also become the face of it for almost a decade. He might step down from the captaincy role, yet the leading IPL run-getter’s scoring prowess needs no introduction.
Talking about statistics, while representing Royal Challengers Bangalore, Virat Kohli has played a total of 207 matches and has scored 6283 runs at a commendable average of 37.39. Now, with the added pressure of captaincy off his shoulders, Kohli is expected to play with utter freedom and possibly rediscover a similar patch of form like that in 2016 IPL edition.
2. Yuzvendra Chahal
For more than 3 seasons now, Yuzvendra Chahal has led the bowling attack of RCB. This premier leg-spinner has always delivered for the franchise and is well versed with his role throughout the game. Interestingly, since the 2014 IPL edition, Chahal has been the highest wicket taker for Royal Challengers Bangalore and has registered a tally of 139 wickets in the tournament. Moreover, with the fifteenth edition being held in India, Chahal’s wicket-taking trajectory is only going to increase, courtesy to the home-ground pitches.
Although pacers like Mohammed Siraj and Harshal Patel have had enormous seasons in the UAE, Chahal’s presence for the Red Army needs no justification. Season after season, Yuzvendra Chahal has managed to be among the purple-cap candidates irrespective of the challenging conditions.
3. AB de Villiers
There is no bowler in the league who hasn’t faced the wrath of AB de Villiers. Although the retention of the former South African skipper can mean that RCB would have to let go of the in-form Glenn Maxwell. Not only is he the sixth-highest runs scorer in IPL but as a decade long marquee player for the Red Army, de Villiers has played a total of 156 games for the side and has scored 4491 runs at an average of 40.64.
Given that he has played alongside Virat Kohli for many years, ABD could also be a potential captain option as he is well versed with the ability of all his peers and can analyse the situation much more calmly than any other player. Lastly, just like King Kohli, AB de Villiers also possesses the ability to score more than 400 runs in every edition of the Indian Premier League.
4. Devdutt Padikkal
This 21-year-old Indian southpaw has managed to become the leading run scorer for the team despite the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in the squad. That solely is enough to justify the caliber of Devdutt Padikkal. This player could be a safe retention choice for Royal Challengers Bangalore as he is not only a terrific opening batsman who can hamper any bowling attack in the powerplay and middle overs but he is also an energetic fielder, who manages to save crucial runs for the team.
If Padikkal is placed in the auction list, RCB would find it hard to retain him as many teams will be eager to have Padikkal. Having said that, RCB can also think on the lines of grooming this particular youngster as the future leader of the franchise.