With Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 just around the corner,
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the star-studded franchise that is yet to
win their maiden IPL title, would look for the elusive dream to come true. Before
the IPL 2020 went underway in the United Arab Emirates last year, RCB skipper
Virat Kohli had noted that he had a strong feeling about winning the title.

The hunch, however, did not prove to be true, as the team
was knocked out in the semi-final against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Also read: IPL 2021 full schedule: Check squads, dates, match timings, venues here

This year, RCB has visibly attempted so far to start afresh,
releasing as many as 10 players and buying eight to replace them, including some
of the costlier buys in the auction, such as New Zealand’s Kyle Jamieson (Rs 15
crore) and Aussie power hitter Glenn Maxwell (Rs 14 crore).

Apart from Virat Kohli himself, his trusted on-crease companion
AB de Villiers, and RCB veteran Yuzvendra Chahal have been retained in the
team, alongside comparatively young faces such as Devdutt Padikkal and Navdeep
Saini.

While the need for middle-order batsmen and all-rounders would
be met with Jamieson and Glenn Maxwell, it would also understandably take some
pressure off Kohli and de Villiers as an opening pair, who could arguably play with
much more of a free hand this time around. Maxwell has scored 6,674 runs so far
in the IPL with a general strike rate over 150.

Also read: Rohit Sharma and Mumbai Indians have IPL ‘three-peat’ on their mind

Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, would complement Jamieson
and Washington Sunder to make up RCB’s pace attack. Chahal leading the spin attack,
just like other years, would help the squad to a great extent.

Royal Challengers Bangalore full squad: Virat Kohli (C), AB
de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Devdutt Padikkal, Adam Zampa,
Kane Richardson, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Kyle Jamieson, Pavan Deshpande,
Shahbaz Ahmed, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Daniel Sams, Harshal Patel,
Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Dan Christian, Suyash Prabhudesai, KS Bharat, Finn
Allen.

Continuing their IPL journey in 2008, the Bangalore
franchise has so far been unable to grab the silverware in IPL, despite featuring
big names such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Jacques Kallis, Rahul
Dravid, Anil Kumble, Dale Steyn etc.

Also read: From KL Rahul to Ishan Kishan, top performers from IPL 2020

They have reached the IPL final three times (2009, 2011, 2016)
till now, each time having been beaten by opponents who were successful in clinching
the trophy, such as Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers
Hyderabad.

With a spending of Rs 35.55 crore in the IPL 2021 auctions,
and acquiring a good mix of renowned as well as new faces, this just might be
the year for RCB to shine and get their hands on the Indian Premier League trophy.