For some reasons, the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has somehow not lived up to expectations thus far in IPL history. Led by Team India captain Virat Kohli, Bangalore-based RCB is determined to win the elusive trophy at least this year.

Stars galore

With superstars such as Kohli and AB de Villiers in its ranks, RCB still enjoys huge popularity among its loyal fans despite not winning the trophy once since 2008. RCB fans expect a turn-around in fortunes in 2020; let’s see whether their dreams of a maiden IPL title will be realized.

Tainted industrialist Vijay Mallya formed RCB at a cost of USD 111.6 million in 2008, making it the second most-expensive team after CSK.

Disappointments continue

Despite a star-studded batting/bowling line-up, RCB invariably fails to deliver when it matters most. Frequent changing/chopping of players is considered as the main reason for this.  As a result, the team’s lean patch in IPL still continues.

What the past says

It is RCB which holds the first and second places of a team scoring highly in IPL history.  It amassed 263 runs against Pune Warriors in 2013 and scored 248 runs against Gujarat Lions in 2016. Ironically enough, RCB also holds the dubious record of scoring the least total in an IPL match: it folded up for a paltry 49 runs in its league match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2017.

Will the Kohli - de Villiers duo deliver now?

Undoubtedly the pillars of strength of RCB’s batting, Kohli-de Villiers duo has batted amazingly for the past many years.  The duo holds record for scoring maximum runs in partnerships: it scored 229 runs against Gujarat Lions in 2016 and 215 runs against Mumbai Indians in 2015.  When the two batters are on song, opposition bowlers/fielders can only pray to their Gods to break their partnership!

Virat ‘King’ Kohli, who has been an integral part of RCB for the past 12 years, holds the unique record of being the only player who has played for 12 consecutive years for the same team.  RCB missed winning the trophy in 2009, 2011 and 2016 when it lost in finals; it made the semi-finals also in 2010 and 2015.

Despite holding many records in its kitty, RCB, as a team, would like to win the coveted trophy at least this year to keep its legion of fans excited; the win would also make the team more respectable indeed!

RCB Matches