Which is the Worst Team in IPL 2018: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Every season, there's always one team that stands out as the underachiever. In IPL 2018, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) stood tall as the worst performing team. Let's dive into why this happened and what can be done to improve their standing in future seasons.
Performance Over History
Historically, the Delhi Daredevils (DD) and later the Delhi Capitals have been the consistent underachievers, with their last good performance occurring in 2012. However, RCB wasn't always as demoralized. They have had the best resources in the league, but their consistency has been an issue, particularly in the playoffs.
Current Performance
RCB's current performance has been a stark contrast to their past. While they previously struggled in playoffs, their inability to even qualify in the ongoing season is a major hit to their morale and fanbase. Not only have they failed to make it to the playoffs, but their disparity in performance reduction is so severe that it's worrying for all viewers and analysts.
On Paper
On paper, Rajasthan Royals (RR) often seem to be one of the weaker teams after the player auction. However, in IPL 2018, they proved to be a formidable opponent and cannot simply be written off as underperformers. Their ability to compete at the highest level despite financial limitations is commendable, but RCB has certainly underperformed compared to RR.
Consistency
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) is known for their inconsistency. They perform brilliantly in the first half of the tournament but tend to fall apart during the second half, often causing them to lose their positions in the top four. In IPL 2018, KXIP was ranked in the top four until Match 49, but their performances later in the season were far less impressive. This inconsistency is a key reason why RCB might not deserve to be in the tournament.
Why RCB is the Worst Team
1. Batting: RCB boasts a lineup of talented players such as Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Brendon McCullum, and Virat Kohli. Yet, they struggle to consistently post competitive scores. Their home ground, Chinnaswamy, demands bold batting, and while the home advantage is significant, it doesn't compensate for the overall underperformance.
2. Bowling: RCB's bowling has been severely lacking. They've failed to defend modest scores and often find themselves giving away high totals. Despite having world-class bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Chris Woakes, their inability to field a strong bowling unit remains a critical issue.
3. Fielding: RCB's fielding has been questionable, evident in their recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Key diving plays and critical catches were missed, which could have shifted the tide in their favor. The importance of catching wins matches, and RCB has not been living up to this rule.
4. Poor Captaincy: Captain Virat Kohli, while a great batsman and leader, has made some questionable decisions. For instance, overlooking bowler Umesh Yadav early in the innings and fielding a less experienced bowler against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) instead of rotating the bowling attack.
5. Team Selection: The team selection has been suboptimal. Despite having strong players like Chris Woakes and core players like Sarfraz Ahmed on the bench, RCB has chosen to include less experienced players, such as Corey Anderson, who have not delivered in crucial matches. Their unwillingness to make necessary changes could be due to a lack of trust in their current bench strength.
Fixing the Situation
To improve their standings, RCB needs to address their shortcomings in every department. They must work on consistently backing up their talented players, fielding a stronger bowling unit, and improving their fielding. Additionally, captain Virat Kohli needs to reconsider his field placements and bowling strategies to improve the team's performance.
RCB still has the chance to secure their spot in the qualifiers, but they need to win at least 6-7 of their remaining matches to do so. This is a daunting task, but with better strategy and execution, they can still salvage the season.
So, is RCB the worst team in IPL 2018? Despite having the best resources, their continued underperformance points to a deeper issue that needs to be addressed before the upcoming seasons.