IPL 2016 Royal Challengers Bangalore profile: Team overview, key players, fixtures, history and prediction

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Overview

Royal Challengers Bangalore have been one of the best teams on paper since the start of the IPL, but are yet to taste victory in the annual cricketing extravaganza. They have made the final on two occasions, while also making the last four as many times, but have faltered when it really matters.

The 9th edition sees them enter as one of the favourites yet again owing to their strong batting line-up, arguably the strongest. They possess a top order that consists of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson, which can strike fear into the best bowlers. The Challengers, however, are weak in the bowling department with no frontline strike bowler following the withdrawal of Mitchell Starc due to injury.

New Zealand bowler Adam Milne is in the squad, but is unlikely to get too many games with Samuel Badree likely to be preferred on India's spin-friendly tracks. However, he is likely to get a look in when they come up against teams that struggle against pace, and on tracks which offer a good amount of purchase for the pacers.

Coach: Daniel Vettori

Key players: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson

Fixtures

IPL History: RCB have always been one of the favourites. They have made the final on two occasions only to fail at the final hurdle.

Squad: Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Adam Milne, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Shane Watson, Stuart Binny, Kane Richardson, Samuel Badree, Travis Head, Praveen Dubey, Vikramjeet Malik, Akshay Karnewar, Iqbal Abdulla, Sachin Baby, Vikas Tokas, Abu Nechim, David Wiese, Kedar Jadhav, Sreenath Aravind.

Prediction: RCB are play-off contenders this season, but will be dependent on the form of their four foreign players, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, AB de Villiers, Samuel Badree, and captain Virat Kohli.