IPL 2017, Royal Challengers Bangalore profile: Team overview, key players, fixtures, history and prediction

IBTimes UK takes a closer look at the eight teams participating in the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League. Royal Challengers Bangalore finished runners-up in last year's tournament, falling in the final hurdle against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Team overview

With the likes of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Shane Watson on their books, Royal Challengers Bangalore boast arguably the most star-studded squad in the Indian Premier League. However, injuries to Kohli and KL Rahul in the recently concluded test series between India and Australia have cast a shadow over Bangalore's title prospects, with the latter set to miss the entire season with an injured shoulder.

RCB parted ways with Australia's Mitchell Starc earlier this year, with the fast bowler opting to take a rest after his country's tour to India to prepare for the Champions Trophy tournament in June. The franchise raised eyebrows when it paid out £1.4m ($1.8m) at the player auction to sign England left-arm pace bowler Tymal Mills, who only plays T20 cricket because of a back problem.

Star man

Virat Kohli comes into the IPL riding a wave of high after his India team won 10 out of the 13 Tests they played in their home season. However, the 28-year-old's personal form dipped alarmingly in the four-Test series against Australia, in which he scored a measly 46 runs at an average of 9.20. The India captain will look to recapture his form with the bat when he returns to play for his franchise from a shoulder injury.

Squad

Players retained

Overseas: AB de Villiers (South Africa), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Adam Milne (New Zealand), Shane Watson (Australia), Samuel Badree (West Indies), Travis Head (Australia), Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa)

Domestic: Virat Kohli, Yuzvendra Singh Chahal, Harshal Patel, Mandeep Hardev Singh, Sarfaraz Naushad Khan, Sreenath Aravind, Kedar Jadhav, Stuart Binny, Sachin Baby, Iqbal Abdullah, KL Rahul, Avesh Khan

Bought at auction

Overseas: Tymal Mills (England), Billy Stanlake (Australia)

Domestic: Aniket Choudhary, Pawan Negi, Praveen Dubey

History

RCB have made the final three times but have never won the IPL crown. They lost the 2009 final to the Deccan Chargers, while MS Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings got the better of Bangalore in the 2011 final. RCB's third final defeat came last year against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Fixtures

Prediction

If key players can stay fit, RCB are a good bet to make the play-offs again.