Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) all-time greatest XI in IPL history

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has been one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. They are famous for their fan following though they are yet to win an IPL trophy. 

Today, we take a look at the all-time greatest XI of the RCB in IPL history which encapsulates the essence of the franchise’s journey in the league. This dream team features iconic players who have left an indelible mark with their batting, bowling, and fielding brilliance. Here are some of the legends of the RCB franchise, who have defined its legacy and contributed to its unforgettable moments.

Here’s the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) All-Time Greatest XI in League History:

1. Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle (Photo Source: TheCricketWire/Twitter)

Chris Gayle was picked up by RCB in the IPL 2011 after he had played for Kolkata Knight Riders, making his IPL debut in 2009. He had a gala time in Royal Challengers Bangalore, forming a scary batting trio with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Gayle also scored the IPL’s highest individual score of 175* while playing for RCB in IPL 2013, where he hit 13 fours and 17 sixes.

In all, Gayle played 85 matches for RCB from 2011-2017, scoring 3’163 runs at a strike rate of 152.52 and an average of 43.32. He hit 239 sixes and 248 fours in his RCB career. He was perhaps at his best for that span in which he played for RCB scoring 5 of his 6 centuries in IPL for the franchise and was inducted in RCB Hall of Fame in IPL 2023.

2. Virat Kohli (C)

Virat Kohli Century. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

A total RCB loyal at heart, Virat Kohli is the only player to have never entered the IPL auction. He was picked by the franchise in a draft of U19 players in the 2008 IPL and has been retained ever since by them. Overall from 2008-2023, Kohli has played 237 matches for RCB, scoring 7’263 runs with 7 centuries and a best score of 113. He has hit 643 fours and 234 sixes in his career with a strike rate of 130.02.

No one can forget the summer of 2016 when Virat Kohli owned the Indian Premier League. He scored a record 973 runs in 16 matches with 4 centuries at a strike rate of 152.03 an average of 81.08. He took the team to the IPL final single-handedly, but the top prize eluded him. Despite stepping down as captain in 2021, Kohli continues to sizzle in IPL with RCB, scoring 639 runs with 2 centuries in IPL 2023.

Also check: Virat Kohli’s IPL Centuries List

3. Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The OG RCB player, Jacques Kallis played for three seasons in IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 42 matches, he made 1132 runs at an average of 31.44 and a strike rate of 112.19. He hit 10 fifties as well.

With the ball, Kallis took 23 wickets with an economy of 8.30. Kallis was one of the few batters who took to the T20 cricket right from the start. Undoubtedly, Kallis was an indispensable asset to RCB, both with the bat and the ball.

4. AB de Villiers (Wk)

Ab de Villiers. (Photo Source: Twitter)

AB de Villiers, the magician was a crucial part of the RCB team‘s success over the years. He joined the RCB franchise in 2011 after being surprisingly not retained by the Delhi Daredevils. AB de Villiers went on to play 156 matches for the RCB franchise from 2011 till his retirement in 2021. He also kept wickets for the franchise in multiple IPL seasons and when he didn’t keep wickets, he was excellent in the field. 

AB de Villiers, in 156 IPL matches for RCB, scored 4’491 runs at an average of 41.20 and strike rate of 158.63. He hit 2 centuries and his highest score was 133*. De Villiers was an entertainer par excellence, as he hit 238 sixes and 362 fours for RCB in IPL. He was inducted into the IPL Hall of Fame in IPL 2023.

5. KL Rahul

While KL Rahul only played 19 games for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, he left an indelible mark with his talent showing through his performances for the team in the tournament. KL Rahul played for RCB in IPL 2013 and 2016 and scored 417 runs for the franchise with 4 half-centuries.

Notably, his best performance for the franchise came in IPL 2016 where he hit 397 runs in 14 games with 4 fifties at a strike rate of 146.49 and showed his true skills. He missed the IPL 2017 due to injury and moved to Punjab Kings in IPL 2018. 

6. Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Glenn Maxwell came to Royal Challengers Bangalore with a hefty price tag and poor form in the IPL 2020, where he had managed just 108 runs in 13 games. RCB showed great faith in Maxwell and gave him the freedom to play as he wished and the Australian big-hitter has proven an asset for them in the 42 matches he has played.

Maxwell has scored 1’214 runs with a strike rate of 161.43, doing his job as a finisher to a tee. He has hit 12 fifties with a highest score of 78 and has hit 108 fours and 67 sixes to boast of. He has also contributed with the ball, taking 12 wickets at a decent economy of 7.82.

7. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Harshal Patel played for RCB in parts first making his IPL debut for the franchise in 2012. His fortunes turned when he joined the franchise back in IPL 2021. Notably, during this edition of the IPL, the willy bowler won the Purple Cap in the tournament for 32 wickets in 15 matches.

In totality, Harshal has taken 99 wickets for RCB in 80 games with a best of 5/27 at an economy of 8.47. Harshal was the perfect death overs bowler for RCB, who used his brilliant slower balls and deadly yorker to pinpoint accuracy.

8. Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble (Photo Source: Twitter)

Anil Kumble was the OG RCB player. Hailing from Bangalore itself, Kumble captained the Royal Challengers Bangalore to the final of IPL 2009 in South Africa. He played 51 matches in total for the RCB franchise in three seasons. During this journey, the ace leg-spin wizard picked up 53 wickets for the Bangalore-based franchise.

Notably, his bowling figures were an incredible 5/5 with an economy of 6.65. It is worth mentioning that Kumble achieved this feat after Kumble had retired from international cricket in 2008 but he was still drafted in by RCB in the IPL 2008 auction.  

9. Zaheer Khan

Zaheer-Khan. (Photo Source: Twitter/RCB)

Zaheer Khan had been the main strike bowler for Royal Challengers Bangalore in their early days. He made his IPL debut in 2008 and played till IPL 2013. In all, Zaheer Khan picked 49 wickets in 44 games for RCB in the Indian Premier League.

Zaheer Khan’s economy during his journey with RCB was 8.60. Speaking of his bowling prowess, his best bowling performance was 4/17. He formed a lethal opening bowling pair with South Africa’s Dale Steyn in the early years of RCB.

10. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzi Chahal. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Yuzvendra Chahal had made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians but flourished under the captaincy of Virat Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore. He joined the franchise in IPL 2014 and went on to rule the bowling charts for the RCB franchise till his shock release ahead of IPL 2022. Chahal adapted well to the batting-friendly track of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and was the go-to man for Virat Kohli when he needed a wicket.

From IPL 2014-2021, Chahal played 113 games for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and picked 139 wickets for them. His economy was 7.58 and his best bowling figures were 4/25. His performance for the franchise, also helped him make his India debut and he has achieved great success for India since then.

11. Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj had joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise in IPL 2018 and was coming from the Sunrisers Hyderabad. He had a lot of trouble with his economy rate in the early part of his IPL career and many even wrote him off. But he was a project that was being finetuned by RCB captain Virat Kohli and he continued to back the pacer. 

This resulted in Mohammed Siraj replaying the faith with his best performance of 19 wickets in IPL 2023. In all, Siraj has played 73 games for the RCB and has 68 wickets to his name. His economy has been 8.47 and his best bowling is 4/21. He has improved leaps and bounds since 2016 and a big hand in his development goes to Virat Kohli, who not only backed in RCB but in the India team as well.