When it comes to powerhouse batters, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is a team that never disappoints. From Virat Kohli’s masterful anchor role to Chris Gayle’s explosive starts and AB de Villiers’ legendary consistency, the franchise has given us some of the most memorable batting performances in IPL history. Despite their lack of a title win, RCB’s batting firepower has created a huge fanbase for the team, and it’s time to rank their top 3 batters of all time.
Here’s a look at the RCB’s top three IPL batters of all time:
1) Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has scored a whopping 6,624 runs in 215 innings, making him the leading run-scorer in the history of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise in the IPL.
Although he may not be as innovative as his teammate AB or as explosive as his opening partner Chris Gayle, Kohli’s unwavering consistency and his ability to play the anchor role make him a crucial part of the team.
Despite being able to destroy opponents when necessary, the 34-year-old’s key strength lies in his ability to play a stabilizing role. Kohli’s standout performance came during the IPL 2016 season where he amassed 973 runs, the highest in a single edition of the tournament, and led RCB to the final. He also topped the charts for the highest number of sixes that season.
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2) Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle is a name that’s synonymous with T20 cricket. He revolutionized the art of destructive batting at the top of the order, setting trends that would be followed for years to come. It’s no surprise that even Virat Kohli has hailed him and AB de Villiers for changing the way the IPL is played.
For RCB, Gayle smashed an impressive 3,163 runs in just 84 innings, with an average of 39.72 and a staggering strike rate of 152.73. He earned the nickname ‘Universe Boss’ for his incredible feats on the cricket field, including the highest individual T20 score of 175*, which he achieved against Pune Warriors in the 2013 edition of the tournament.
Despite declining in his final few seasons with the franchise, Gayle’s record is a testament to just how impactful and massive his peak was. It’s hard to imagine any other player having such a profound impact on the game of T20 cricket.
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3) AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers is a name that needs no introduction when it comes to T20 cricket. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 batters of all time, and his inclusion in the RCB team has been a huge boost to their batting lineup since 2011.
During his time with RCB, AB de Villiers scored 4,491 runs in 145 innings with an impressive average of 39.71 and a strike rate of 151.69. His consistency in this volatile format, coupled with his ability to score much faster than his peers, made him a standout batter in the team.
AB’s best individual season was in 2016 when he amassed 687 runs at an average of 52.85 and a phenomenal strike rate of 168.80. His incredible innings against Gujarat Lions in Qualifier-1 that season single-handedly booked a spot for RCB in their third IPL final ever, showcasing his match-winning abilities.