'Ee sala cup namde'

Four words that sum up the desperate ambition of chasing the Indian Premier League trophy for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, which translates to 'This year the cup is ours!' Will this year will be their Dream IPL season?

Let's consider their IPL history. A team that got battered by 140 runs in the very first game of the IPL T20 was always going to have some journey in reaching the top of the mountain.

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However, in this edition of IPL 2020 held in the United Arab Emirates, the RCB fans got a chance to experience what it feels like to be at the top of IPL Standings for a good three hours. And just as we have said every year, the competition is tough this year too in the IPL T20. It might well be tougher than ever!

With the league stage half done and every team having played at least seven games, the battle for the IPL 2020 Top 4 still remains very much open. The top three IPL teams have the same points (10) and are separated by the Net Run Rate. RCB is third only because of a poor NRR.

But that really can't take away much from the Virat Kohli's brigade this IPL season. Especially the fact that for the first time in the last four IPL seasons they have looked menacing, even intimidating! And, this makes them more than the challengers for IPL 2020.

In 13 years of IPL T20, 10 points in the first seven games are RCB's best start to their IPL campaign. And they have achieved it only once before 2020, that is in IPL 2013. A season when they missed out on qualification for the knockout stages by two points.

So yes these are still early days to be certain of a spot among the Top 4, but the fact that RCB seems like front-runners in IPL 2020 can't be ignored. Versatile, dynamic, and yet, somehow consistent. Here are the factors that make them worth following this IPL season:

Top-order: No King Kohli and AB De Villers Monarchy!

Over the last few seasons, one of the biggest problems for RCB was the amount of excruciating pressure on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to guide their batting prowess. The two were under the pressure to deliver almost every single IPL game because the other players weren't firing enough. Especially the top order, but, this season it seems that the franchise has taken care of that issue with Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch amassing three fifty-plus partnerships already in the IPL 2020.

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20-year old Padikkal has been particularly impressive, scoring 243 runs in seven IPL games at a strike rate of 126.56 with three half-centuries. Devdutt Padikkal is steadily and surely building his fan base not only in the star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore team but Indian Cricket fan base too. Shivam Dube has also showcased on more than one occasion that he can be entrusted with pinch-hitting when required. 

As a result, Virat and AB De have enjoyed batting in the middle. The duo has scored a total of 484 runs so far in the IPL 2020 and their recent 100 plus stand at Sharjah must be a massive concern for any IPL Team.

The Bowling Unit:

The RCB bowlers have taken 45 out of the possible 70 IPL wickets so far. Which is more than decent, given that the highest is that of Delhi Capitals (51 out of 70).

Captain Virat Kohli said after their recent win against Kolkata Knight Riders that, "Bowling unit, with Morris coming in, looks all the more potent. If your bowling unit is strong, you have a great chance of going deep in the tournament."

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The Proteas pacer Chris Morris currently has the best overall economy in the tournament (4.50). At a close second is one of the best performers with the ball for RCB this season, Washington Sundar (4.90). The 21-year old has taken five wickets so far this season, three of them coming in the powerplay (1-6). 

Leggie Yuzvendra Chahal has led the way with the ball, taking 10 wickets so far at an economy of 7.07. Sri Lanka seamster Isuru Udana wasn't economical to begin his IPL career but seems to have found his feet in the league with seven IPL wickets so far.

Captain Virat Kohli:

King Kohli since he became the Indian captain hasn't had a good time in the IPL T20 leading his troop into the battle. Things haven't seemed to click for RCB. And Virat has been questioned constantly about his captaincy and his decisions!

This season though the Indian skipper has looked far more relaxed and in control of the things. Even though he had a slow start in the IPL tournament and was unable to hit a boundary in the first three IPL games, he made a strong comeback in the penultimate super over against the Mumbai Indians and then fourth game scoring 72 off 53. 

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But he came into his own in the IPL weekend match-up against Chennai Super Kings smashing 90 runs in 52 balls with four 4's and four 6's.

Form with the bat is going to be a big positive for Virat himself and it has been, given his on-field vibe which seems to be more positive than ever. This may turn out to the X-factor for RCB. In fact, all of these factors have already made them more than just challengers in IPL 2020.

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