3 players Royal Challengers Bangalore are expected to retain for IPL 2018

Royal Challengers Bangalore, the most beloved team in the IPL will be raring to go when the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League kicks off later this year in April. Following a hugely disappointing run in 2017, the team would want to retain their best players and put up a solid show, in order to win their first ever IPL title.

Here are the three players, the Royal Challengers Bangalore - RCB are most likely to retain for the 2018 season of the IPL:

1. Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli for sure will be right on top of the list when it comes to retaining players. Kohli has been the most consistent player in the history of T20 cricket. He is the only cricketer to average more than 50 in all three formats of the game.

Apart from being a highly reliable batsman, Virat Kohli is the only player to have been in the RCB squad right from the first season of the Indian Premier League. Kohli has amassed a whooping 4418 from 141 innings, and is only behind Suresh Raina in the list of the highest run scorer in the history of the IPL. The flamboyant cricket is currently ranked number 1 and number 3 in the ICC Batsman's Rankings for ODIs and T20Is respectively.

As an aggressive captain, Kohli has taken Team India right to the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings. He is yet to lose a bilateral series as the national captain. In the 2016 season, Virat led RCB to the summit clash by scoring a record-breaking 973 runs and scoring 4 centuries. Although, the 2017 season was not that great, 2018 could be the year when he finally leads RCB to the title.

2. AB De Villiers

AB De Villiers is amongst the most dangerous batsman in international cricket. His ability to innovate and clear the field with ease have made the bowlers hapless on multiple occasions. The
South-African right-hander has hit three centuries and 22 fifties across all the seasons of the IPL.

De Villiers, was bought for $1.1 million by the RCB in the 2011 season, and since then, AB has become a crucial batsman in the RCB top order. The RCB Management would not make the mistake of not retaining him.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has shown his talent and ability in international cricket by taking 26 wickets in 14 T20Is at a mind-blowing strike rate of 12. He has been one of the most successful leg-spinner in the history of the IPL. He proved his knack, when he took his first six-wicket haul in T20Is against England in a crucial game in Bangalore early in 2017.

The 23 year-old, with his captivating flight & deceptive googlies has taken 58 wickets for RCB in the last 3 seasons. His presence would certainly boost their spin attack and help their team to attain a higher position in the league.

Cheers,
Sparsh