Brad Hogg picks RCB as his favourites to win IPL 2020

The IPL caravan is about to move to the UAE, and the excitement for the tournament is slowly beginning to bubble up. A few days after Aakash Chopra earmarked RCB to do well in the UAE, the retired Aussie chinaman bowler Brad Hogg has picked RCB as his favourites to win the IPL in 2020.

"They (RCB) will have a big chance to take out an IPL. They have always had good stock on paper but they have never been able to go out and get the job done," Hogg opined, speaking on his Youtube channel.

Hogg thinks that the addition of Aaron Finch at the top order will make a difference to the team’s fortunes. "Now, with the inclusion of (Aaron) Finch at the top, he will be able to dominate the powerplay overs... get some quick runs and relieve the pressure off AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli in the middle-order,” he explained.

The veteran Aussie spinner-turned-Pundit also believes that the team has a better bowling unit this time around. "Also, their bowling attack looks strong with Dale Steyn and Kane Richardson, and they have a better team balance as compared to the last couple of years. They will have a better strategy going into the tournament,” he added.

Apart from Royal Challengers Bangalore, Hogg also picked the defending champions Mumbai Indians to have a successful campaign again in 2020. "The reason is that they (MI) have got a good top-four... they also have good all-rounders and their bowling attack is stable, led by two geniuses with the new ball and in death overs -- (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Lasith) Malinga,” Hogg substantiated.

Hogg also believes that Hardik Pandya will be a player to watch out for in the Mumbai Indians lineup. "Also, the all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He is looking to get back into cricket after a long time off due to injury. He has also got a baby on the way as well. I just think those things will give him extra energy and he will become man of the tournament in the UAE,” he concluded.

[IANS inputs]