WPL 2024: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) – SWOT Analysis

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had a rather forgettable and devastating season in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). But in WPL 2024, with renewed vigour and enthusiasm, they will look to silence all their critics, fight their demons and play more formidable cricket to justify their already star-studded lineup. The IPL 2024 auctions saw them make smart purchases and strengthen their squad immensely.

Led by Smriti Mandhana who would look to overturn all the undoings of the past season and lead her side admirably. A side blessed with the presence of international stars,  experienced and seasoned Indian internationals and domestic players- this season could indeed be the chance to go all the way with a perfect blend of players.

With a side decked with Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux, Kate Cross, and Nadine de Klerk, to name a few, RCB has the pedigree. The likes of Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Shobana and Shubha Satheesh provide the much-needed firepower to this line-up.

Here is the RCB Squad ahead of the WPL 2024

Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry*, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana (Captain), Sophie Devine*, Georgia Wareham*, Kate Cross*, Nadine de Klerk*, Ekta Bisht, Shubha Satheesh, S Meghana, Simran Bahadur, Sophie Molineux*

WPL 2024: Let us now dive deeper into the SWOT Analysis of RCB

Strengths:

Well-rounded spin attack- Undoubtedly, RCB boasts a stellar spin bowling department. With Shreyanka Patil in the purple patch and the form of her life leading the attack, she brings in a lot of solidity and balance to the bowling. She will be clinical in the death overs if the past season gave us any indication of the same and will look to carry on from that and be the wicket-taking option for RCB.

With Asha Shobana and Ekta Bisht coming to the set-up on the back of a good domestic season, the duo provides assurance. With the presence of Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham who are experienced spinners from Australia- RCB has a brilliant mix in this department and can prove to be quite a handful for the opposition.

Find someone who adores you the way Shreyanka does with the bat and ball 😉#PlayBold #SheIsBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #WPL2024 #ValentinesDay pic.twitter.com/pz7U9CCeT6

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 14, 2024

Good mix of foreign players: RCB already had the services of Sophie Devine and Ellyse Perry but with the brilliant acquisitions of Georgia Wareham, Kate Cross, Nadine de Klerk and Sophie Molineux- they have assembled a fiery line-up and an abundance of classy and talented players who will beef up the playing 11 massively. Even, the addition of fine domestic picks adds a lot of value and depth to the set-up.

Strong batting depth: RCB possesses a strong batting depth which makes them an asset on surfaces like the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru where they will look to optimise their batting resources and the shorter boundaries while also maximising the home advantage.

Weaknesses: 

Unidimensional pace attack: RCB will rue the fact that they have a unidimensional pace department. Their fortunes largely hinge on Renuka Singh Thakur, Simran Dil Bahadur, Kate Cross and Nadine de Klerk who have collectively had mixed fortunes lately. The lack of a proper fast-bowling international spearhead like Marizanne Kapp or even Shabnim Ismail will bite RCB who will depend on their existing attack to provide respite and early wickets in the challenging conditions.

Reliance on big names: Another area of concern is how RCB will rely on their big names to deliver. This was a pattern observed in the previous season with the star players taking some time taking time to settle in and find the momentum and by the time they adapted, it was tricky because RCB had already lost their initial matches. They will miss the services of Heather Knight, who proved to be quite dependable scoring runs and scalping wickets which offered RCB much-needed balance. Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine will have to lead the way and the others will follow suit contributing to the team’s cause.

Lack of strike-bowling, wicket-taking options: Barring Shreyanka Patil who excelled in this role in the previous season, there aren’t a lot of options in the team now who inspire confidence. Death over bowling has also been a concern and with the first phase of the WPL slated to take place in Bengaluru, it will be challenging. Taking wickets in the middle overs will also be of paramount importance and currently, that seems to be the missing link.

Opportunities:

Smriti’s captaincy and Luke Williams coaching: This season presents itself as an opportunity for Smriti Mandhana to redeem herself as a skipper and lead the side to glory. It will also be interesting to see how she gels with Luke Williams, the newly appointed coach and if the duo can set the ball rolling with strategies, team combinations and wins from the get-go.

RCB’s home advantage: With the first phase of the WPL happening in Bengaluru, RCB must leverage the home advantage to the fullest. Unlike the last season where the matches were restricted to Mumbai, this season RCB can maximise the conditions to their favour, make the most of the batting-friendly conditions, feed off from the support of their loyal fanbase and look to accelerate and get the finest possible starts to their campaign.

Kanika and Richa establishing themselves as finishers: This edition of the WPL also is the perfect platform for the finisher Kanika Ahuja to make the most of all opportunities and cement her place as a finisher. She has played for India A and is on the fringes of selection for the senior team and a robust season with runs under her belt will make her a player to reckon with for the future.

While in the recent India internationals, Richa Ghosh was experimented as a #3, it will be interesting to see where she would be played in that batting order but if she gets a go as a finisher, it will only further her game and justify the claims of her flexibility in any batting position which is a massive bonus.

#WPL Pre Season Camp Underway! 😎

The excitement is in the air as the girls experience their first practice session of the season, the first huddle, and the first team dinner. More on Bold Diaries!#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #SheIsBold #WPL2024 pic.twitter.com/zResCxbGu5

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 14, 2024

Threats: 

No fixed #3: One of the looming threats for RCB is who will be the #3 in that batting order. There are options in the form of S Meghana, Shubha Satheesh and the outside possibility of playing Richa in the position. With this uncertainty, who will the management entrust this coveted #3 spot? Only time will tell.

Lack of consistency in selections: RCB has for the longest time struggled to get their team combinations right which has caused their downfall. This season they will look to be more mindful of their selections, give longer ropes to the players and be more tactful with the playing 11 that will drive them to success.

Bad start to the season: RCB did not have the best possible start to the season which proved to be detrimental to their prospects. Losing their matches and playing listless cricket will hopefully be a thing of the past and playing their A game in the first leg at Bengaluru and carrying on the vein of form to Delhi will be of prime importance if RCB is looking to go all the way, this season.

WPL 2024: RCB Best Playing 11

Sophie Devine*, Smriti Mandhana (C), Shubha Satheesh, Ellyse Perry*, Kanika Ahuja, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine de Klerk*, Sophie Molineux*, Shreyanka Patil, Asha Sobhana, Renuka Thakur

𝗦𝗡𝗔𝗣𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗦: #𝗪𝗣𝗟𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽 𝗗𝗔𝗬 1️⃣

The wheels are in motion 🛞

Some 📸 from today's action in Bengaluru 🙌 #PlayBold #SheIsBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/xdub1HoZxT

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 13, 2024

Prediction 

RCB seems in contention to end up third on the table and qualify for the playoffs on the back of good and consistent showings. They have the players and the mindset to execute the same and under Smriti Mandhana’s captaincy, RCB can prove to be the dark horses.

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