For IPL 2024, RCB released some big names including Hazlewood, Hasaranga, Harshal Patel. RCB brought in Cameron Green from Mumbai Indians for 17.5Cr in an all cash deal before the auction. They also traded in Mayank Dagar from SRH in place of their Spin bowling All rounder Shahbaz Ahmed. On account of these releases and trades, RCB went into the auction with 23.25Cr purse.
Indian Legendary Spinner and Former RCB Captain, Anil Kumble was not quite happy with Auction strategy applied by RCB on Tuesday, December 19 in Dubai. During the auction, RCB were desperately looking for a good death bowler who could strengthen their bowling lineup. RCB went all in for Pat Cummins up-to 20.25Cr from their total purse of 23.25Cr, but were outbid by Sunrisers Hyderabad, who finally bought the player.
At the auction, RCB bought some overseas pacers in Alzarri Joseph, Lockie Ferguson, and Tom Curran along with an Indian pacer in Yash Dayal. They wrapped the auction with some young uncapped signings. The fans were quite upset with their performance at the auction, because looking at the players it feels the Bangalore franchise had better bowlers in the previous season of the IPL.
RCB still require a spinner – Anil Kumble
In his interview on JioCinema, Indian Veteran Spinner Anil Kumble does not seem too pleased with auction strategy of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kumble criticizes the franchise for their buys at the auction and feels Royal Challengers Bangalore didn’t get the team quite right at the auction. He questions RCB for them not buying any good spinner in the auction.
“I think I agree with this in terms of the rating, I don’t think they go beyond seven, because when you look at an auction, you’re looking to better what you have done in the past or released. The three bowlers they released, if you look at Hasaranga, Hazlewood and Harshal Patel, have you picked players better than them?”
He continued:
“They still require a spinner. They don’t have a spinner. Even at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, it’s the wicket-taking spinners who always perform better. So they don’t have that. They’ll have to lean back on Karn Sharma, who hardly played last season. He was the impact bowler for them, but didn’t play all the matches. So it’s a huge ask and then they’ve made a trade as well. So it’s not easy without a spinner. I don’t think they got it quite right.”
Also Read: IPL 2024: “I Don’t Think Hardik Pandya As A Captain Is A Finished Product Yet” – Aakash Chopra