RCB in IPL 2021: Royal Challengers Bangalore complete squad, schedule, players released, performance so far (2024)

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IPL 2021

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will continue thehunt for their maiden IPL title when they kick off the IPL 2021 proceedings against Mumbai Indians on April 9. Led by Virat Kohli since 2013, RCB have been an underperforming team in past few years. Although they made it to the second round last year, their form suffered a slump going into the Eliminator and they unsurprisingly crashed out after losing the first knockout match - against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

With a partially revamped squad, RCB will hope to end their title drought in IPL 2021. Going into the season, the franchise will have a new opener as captain Kohli is back to take up the opening job. He will be joined by another new opener at least for the first match. Once Devdutt Padikkal is fit, he willwalk into the playing XI to kick off the proceedings with the captain. Padikkal has tested positive for COVID-19 and is under isolation.

Before RCB kick off their campaign against MI later this week, here's a look at their complete squad, schedule, players released and performance so far -

Complete squad

RCB spent huge money on all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and KyleJamieson at the auction and bought them for Rs 14.2.5 crore and 15 crore, respectively. Apart from them, the franchise bought KS Bharat, Suyash Prabhudessai, Daniel Christian, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Rajat Patidarand Sachin Baby. Barring Christian (4.8 crore), the rest of the mentioned players had joined the franchise at their base prices.

Squad:Virat Kohli (Captain), AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Harshal Patel, Daniel Sams, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Shahbaz Ahmed, Kane Richardson, Pavan Deshpande, Glenn Maxwell, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Kyle Jamieson, Dan Christian, Suyesh Prabhudessai, K.S. Bharat, Finn Allen

Schedule

RCB will play their first three matches in Chennai before they fly to Mumbai for the next 2 matches. The Bengaluru-based franchise will then play next 4matches in Ahmedabad. Following the Ahmedabad leg, RCB will land in Kolkata for their final 5 league stage matches. No franchise holds the home advantage this year.

Players released

RCB released as many as 10 players ahead of the IPL 2021 auction. The list included Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn (unavailable for IPL 2021), Parthiv Patel (retired), Isuru Udana, Shivam Dube, Chris Morris, Umesh Yadav, Pawan Negi, Moeen Ali and Gurkeerat Singh Mann. The franchiseretained Kane Richardson despite the pacer pulling out of the league last year.

RCB's performanceso far

RCB's performance in the past few years does not reflect the strength which it had in the initial years. After missing out on a playoffspot in the first year, RCB played the final in 2009.They lost to Deccan Chargers in the final. Next year, they once again made it to the playoffs. RCBlost to Mumbai Indians in the semi-final. Next year, they again made it to the final, wherethey lost to Chennai Super Kings.

RCBhave struggled since then. They failed to make it to the second round of IPL 2012, 2013 and 2014. In 2015, they made it to the 2nd round after 3 seasons. Their hopeswere ended by Chennai Super Kings, who won the second Qualifier.

RCB played their 3rd final in 2016 but once again fell short as Sunrisers Hyderabad lifted the title for the first time. RCB crashed outfrom the league stage of IPL2017, 2018and 2019. In IPL 2020, which was played in UAE, they qualified for the playoffs but didn't live up to the expectations.