Royal Challengers Bangalore Auction Preview

Squad Size: 14

Purse Remaining: 35.9 Cr

Available slots (Overseas): 11 (3)

Who have they retained: 

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have once again decided to shuffle the pack and have retained only 12 players from last season, the fewest amongst all IPL. However, despite retaining only 12 players RCB have most of their bases covered. They have kept their young opening partnership of Devdutt Padikkal and Joshua Phillippe. The rest of the top order is complete with King Kohli and Mr. 360. And in terms of bowling, they have retained spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, Adam Zampa and Washington Sundar and pacers Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Kane Richardson. 

Who have they released:

RCB released 10 players from their squad that finished 4th last season and there have been some surprising omissions from the retention list. At the top of the order, Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch was released after only one year with the franchise while Parthiv Patel has now retired. All-rounders Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube were let go as they weren’t able to make the impact down the order for the team whereas Chris Morris was released due to his recent injury history. Other players that were released include Dale Steyn, Isuru Udana, Pawan Negi and Umesh Yadav. 

Who have they traded for: 

RCB have traded for Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel from Delhi Capitals to bolster their lower-order batting and pace bowling.

What they need: 

With only 14 players on their roster, RCB has a lot of work to do in this auction to get ready for next season. Thankfully, they have the second-highest purse amongst all teams with 35.9 Cr to spend in this auction. The biggest area of concern is the middle-order. Last year, RCB were too reliant on their top 4 for the runs and that needs to be addressed in this auction. Kohli’s side needs a specialist Indian batsman that can slot in at number 5 as well as an overseas all-rounder that can bat in the top 6 and bowl a few overs.

With the departures of Steyn, Udana and Morris they also need an overseas fast bowler that can bowl at the death alongside Navdeep Saini.

Players they can sign: 

The options for middle-order batsman from India are limited to Kedar Jadhav who previously played for RCB and Karnataka born Karun Nair. In terms of overseas middle-order batting, one option they can look at is Glenn Maxwell. Yes, Maxwell has failed everywhere in the IPL since 2014 but the possibility of having Maxwell alongside Kohli and AB may be too good of an opportunity to turn down. Additionally, Maxwell can bowl a few overs and RCB have the budget to afford the high price Maxwell might eventually be sold for in the auction.