WPL 2024 | SWOT Analysis of Royal Challengers Bangalore

Sophie Devine in the nets of RCB ahead of the WPL 2024 (Source: x.com)Sophie Devine in the nets of RCB ahead of the WPL 2024 (Source: x.com)

The second edition of the Women's Premier League is just a couple of days away. One of the most followed teams in the tournament is the Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Smriti Mandhana-led team did not have an ideal first season. They just managed to win two of their eight games in the league stage and finished second last in the points table.

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This time around, they will look to mend things and put on a better display. The prime target for the unit will be to make it to the top four and, from there, find a way to the summit clash and lift the trophy. 

In order to predict the fate of the Royal Challengers we need to analyse the squad. So, moving ahead to that let us first have a look at the whole squad. 

Royal Challengers Bangalore Squad for WPL 2024

Batters: Smriti Mandhana, Indrani Roy, Richa Ghosh, Sabbhineni Meghana.

All-rounders: Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Shreyanka Patil, Simran Dil Bahadur, Nadine de Klerk.

Spinners: Ekta Bisht, Georgia Wareham, Sophie Molineux.

Pacers: Renuka Singh Thakur, Kate Cross, Satheesh Shubha, Shradda Bhau Pokharkar.


Strengths of Royal Challenger Bangalore for WPL 2024

Solid and experienced top-order

The top three of the RCB batting line-up will comprise Smriti Mandhana, Sophie Devine, and Ellyse Perry. The three names prove that there will be enough stability and steadiness alongside power-hitting by Devine. RCB will need one of these batters to click to win most of the matches. 

Well-rounded bowling attack for the playing XI

The RCB management will primarily look to go with Renuka Sing Thakur, Kate Cross, Georgia Wareham or Sophie Molineux alongside another Indian bowler or bowling all-rounder. These names are vastly experienced and have proven themselves at the highest level. So, the bowling of the team looks sorted as long as these players are in form or are not injured. 

Advantage of playing in home conditions

The first of the WPL 2024 will be played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This will be an advantage for the team as they know the conditions better than the other teams, and their top three batters will enjoy playing on the batting-friendly wicket. If they can execute their plans properly, the first half of the tournament will give them a boost on their road to the top four. 


Weaknesses of Royal Challengers Bangalore in WPL 2024 

Lack of proper Indian finishers

While the top-order of the RCB looks pretty strong there is a lack of depth after the top three. They have the likes of Nadine de Klerk whom they can use in the lower middle-order, but the restriction of WPL in using only four overseas player in the playing XI will make life difficult for the management. 

The only reputed finisher that they have is Richa Ghosh. But her inconsistency may be a concern for the team and they might have to depend on inexperienced players like Shreyanka Patil to do the job for them. 

Over dependency on the overseas buys

A lot of RCB's fate in this edition of the tournament will depend on the likes of Ellyse Perry, Sophie Devine, Kate Cross, and Georgia Wareham. Seeing the squad, these will be the players RCB will opt for as the overseas options in most of their matches in the playing XI. But they lack quality in the backup of these players. So, if any of them suffer from a lack of form or get injured, the campaign will be in jeopardy for Smriti Mandhana and her unit. 


Opportunity for Royal Challengers Bangalore in WPL 2024

Emerge as better team at the end of the season

RCB finished as the second-last team in the previous edition of the WPL. They can only improve as a team this time around. So, there will be an opportunity for RCB to silence their critics and surprise them with their performance in the tournament. 


Threat for Royal Challengers Bangalore in WPL 2024

Lack of experience amongst the Indian recruits

The Indian players in the RCB squad are a bunce of talented young players. But there is a lack of experience amongst these players. They might succumb under pressure in the crunch matches. Barring Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, and Renuka Singh Thakur there are not many players who have handled pressure at the highest stage. However, this might also be an opportunity for these youngsters to prove themselves worthy of the big stage. 

SWOT Analysis of RCB for WPL 2024 (Source: x.com)SWOT Analysis of RCB for WPL 2024 (Source: x.com)


Players to Watch Out for

Smriti Mandhana - A lot of RCB's chances will depend on the starts given by Mandhana. Besides, eyes will be on how she handles the pressure of leading the team alongside her batting form. 

Sophie Devine - While Mandhana will be the one steading the ship at the beginning of the innings. The job of giving them power packed starts will be on the Kiwi international, Sophie Devine. She is a power hitter and can easily take the game away from the opposition in the initial stages of the game. 

Renuka Singh Thakur - The Indian seamer is an efficient new ball bowler. Renuka will be a prime weapon for Mandhana and will be a very important player to watch out for. 


Evaluation of the Royal Challenger Bangalore Squad for WPL 2024

Batting

Experience - 7/10
Depth - 6/10
Power - 7/10
Finishing - 6/10

Rating - 6.5/10


Bowling

Experience - 7/10
Powerplay Potential - 7/10
Middle-overs Potential - 7/10
Death-overs Potential - 5/10

Rating - 6.5/10

Overall Team Rating - 6.5/10


Prediction for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL 2024

There seems to be some holes in the squad of RCB for the WPL 2024.  However, they will have the advantage of playing in their home conditions in the first phase of the tournament and that might give them an impetus to make it into the final three. Some inspirational performances might see them play in the summit clash of this edition.