The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have always been one of the most exciting teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). With a star-studded lineup that includes Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Yuzvendra Chahal, the team is known for their explosive batting and fiery performances on the field. But in the 2016 season, RCB took their game to a whole new level, what many consider to be the best RCB team ever. With a stunning run of victories, they made it all the way to the final, only to fall just short of the trophy. In this walkthrough, we’ll take a closer look at their iconic season. From Kohli’s record-breaking run to the resurgence of Chris Gayle, we’ll explore how this team came together to create some of the most memorable moments in IPL history. So, let’s dive in and relive the magic of the best RCB team ever!
RCB’s road to IPL 2016 final
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
| 12-Apr-16 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Bangalore | Won by 45 runs |
| 17-Apr-16 | Delhi Daredevils | Bangalore | Lost by 7 wickets |
| 20-Apr-16 | Mumbai Indians | Mumbai | Lost by 6 wickets |
| 22-Apr-16 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Pune | Won by 13 runs |
| 24-Apr-16 | Gujarat Lions | Rajkot | Lost by 6 wickets |
| 30-Apr-16 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | Hyderabad | Lost by 15 runs |
| 2-May-16 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Bangalore | Lost by 5 wickets |
| 7-May-16 | Rising Pune Supergiant | Bangalore | Won by 7 wickets |
| 9-May-16 | Kings XI Punjab | Mohali | Won by 1 run |
| 11-May-16 | Mumbai Indians | Bangalore | Lost by 6 wickets |
| 14-May-16 | Gujarat Lions | Bangalore | Won by 144 runs |
| 16-May-16 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata | Won by 9 Wickets |
| 18-May-16 | Kings XI Punjab | Bangalore | Won by 82 runs (D/L) |
| 22-May-16 | Delhi Daredevils | Raipur | Won by 6 Wickets |
| 24-May-16 | Gujarat Lions (Qualifier 1) | Bangalore | Won by 4 Wickets |
| 29-May-16 | Sunrisers Hyderabad (Final) | Bangalore | Lost by 8 Runs |
Overview of the Iconic Season
The 2016 IPL season was one of the most memorable in the tournament’s history. Led by captain Virat Kohli, the RCB team in 2016 was at its best, winning seven of their first ten matches and scoring a huge score of 248 runs in the match against the Gujarat Lions. While they suffered a setback in the final, losing to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, the team had already cemented their place in the hearts of fans with their fearless approach to the game.
Key Players Who Made It Happen
While the entire RCB team played their part in the 2016 season, there were a few standout performers who really made the difference. At the top of the list was Virat Kohli, who had the best IPL season as an individual. The former Indian captain scored an incredible 973 runs in just 16 innings, including four centuries and seven half-centuries. He was equally supported by AB de Villiers, who scored 687 runs at an average of 52.84, and Chris Gayle, who rediscovered his form to hit two centuries and score 227 runs in just three matches. The team’s bowling attack was led by Yuzvendra Chahal, who finished the season with 21 wickets, and Shane Watson, who took 20.
Royal Challengers Bangalore 2016 Squad
Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle, Shane Watson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Milne, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Harshal Patel, Stuart Binny, Kane Richardson, Samuel Badree, Travis Head, Praveen Dubey, Vikramjeet Malik, Akshay Karnewar, Iqbal Abdullah, Sachin Baby, Vikas Tokas.
The Team’s Strengths and Weaknesses
One of the key strengths of the 2016 RCB team was their batting lineup, which was arguably the most formidable in the tournament. With Kohli, de Villiers, Gayle, and Shane Watson all capable of scoring big runs, the team had the ability to chase down any total or set a big target for their opponents. However, their bowling attack was not as strong, and they often depended on Chahal and Watson to take wickets and keep the opposition score in check.
IPL 2016 – RCB vs Gujarat Lions
The 2016 IPL season was full of memorable moments for RCB fans, from Kohli’s record-breaking run to Gayle’s resurgence. One of the standout moments was the team’s incredible performance against the Gujarat Lions, where they scored a record-breaking 248 runs in 20 overs. Kohli and de Villiers put on a masterclass, scoring 109 and 129 respectively, and the team looked unbeatable. Another memorable moment was Gayle’s century against the Kings XI Punjab, where he hit 14 sixes and scored 117 runs in just 57 balls.
