MI vs RCB IPL 2024: Who Royal Challengers Bengaluru Need To Drop To Hand Will Jacks Debut?

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) definitely need to make some changes to turn their season around, but the team management has so far shown a lack of spine with their choice of the playing 11, handing players out of form a long rope.

With four defeats in five matches, RCB has persisted with several underperforming players including skipper Faf Du Plessis. The Bengaluru-based side has also surprised most experts and fans by dropping some players on the back of good performances.

The RCB think-tank has made ridiculous calls in terms of their playing 11 for games, axing the likes of Vyshak Vijaykumar and Mahipal Lomror despite their good showing in the previous games.

If RCB want a turnaround, Andy Flower and Mo Bobat along with skipper Du Plessis need to make some uncomfortable decisions, starting with dropping some big name players from yesteryear to slot in some promising talents in the shortest format.

One such player is England all-rounder Will Jacks, who bats in the top order and can also roll his arm over with some off-break similar to what Glenn Maxwell has to offer.

The 25-year-old English player was bought by RCB for Rs 3.20 Crore in the IPL 2023 auction, but missed the entire season due to a muscle injury. He is yet to play for the franchise despite being available and in form this season.

However, it may finally be time for desperate RCB to hand Jacks his IPL debut when they face Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday (April 11). But who will he replace in the playing 11?

Who RCB will drop to slot in Will Jacks in the playing 11 against MI?

Faf Du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Reece Topley are the four overseas players picked by RCB in their last two matches. With Du Plessis being the skipper, it's unlikely he gets the axe.

The same applies to a big name like Maxwell as RCB has this practice of not dropping big name players. So, the two remaining slots is where they would look to bring Jacks into the picture.

Australian all-rounder Green, an unecessary Rs 17.50 Crore cash-only trade from MI ahead of the season, seems to be the one that RCB could drop to hand Jacks his debut or they could also play an all-Indian bowling attack and drop Topley.

However, if RCB are thinking like a sports team and not a branding company, they would make changes which the experts and fans have been crying out for since the season opener.

Who RCB need to drop to hand Will Jacks debut?

RCB will need to make a tough call of axing their skipper Du Plessis to bring in Jacks as the opener alongside Virat Kohli. Du Plessis and Kohli are similar kind of players who have not fired in the powerplay this season.

The current RCB opening pair has managed just one 100 plus partnership in IPL 2024 with Kohli also getting a century of his own by batting through, but all that went in vain as the team lost to Rajasthan Royals.

Kohli and Du Plessis faced 105 balls that night, and could only score a total of 157 runs. While there have been mixed reactions to their contribution, RCB will definitely benifit if one of them plays at number 3, opening up a slot for a player like Jacks.

Jacks has been piling on runs across T20 leagues in the world. Whether he succeeds at RCB is another question, but if not utilized how would one know if he can cut it at the IPL?

With a big outlay on Green, RCB should persist with the Australian as he also brings the pace-bowling option. Maxwell also provides an off-spinning option, but needs to take his batting a little seriously.

Topley also should retain his place as the lanky England pacer has done well in his two outings this season. If RCB want to drop Topley it should be only for Lockie Ferguson.

So, Du Plessis should be the fall guy if RCB finally make the right call of playing Jacks. The think-tank, however, may use Du Plessis at number three and play Jacks in place of his compatriot Topley.