Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) heads to the IPL 2024 Auction looking to fill six positions with three positions abroad. The franchise has retained 19 players and has a purse of Rs 23.35 crore left to complete its squad. The auction will take place in Dubai with a total of
The team released 11 players during the retention window, including names like Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewod and Indian seamer Harshal Patel. Once again, ahead of an IPL auction, RCB is struggling with its bowling combination.
However, their batting seems to be well sorted and Andy Flower, their head coach, also revealed their top order in a recent YouTube video on RCB’s official YouTube channel.
Speaking in the video, Andy Flower confirmed RCB’s top four. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli, he said, will open the batting, Rajat Patidar will bat at three and Glenn Maxwell will slot in at four. He further said that Cameron Green, who was traded by RCB from Mumbai Indians, is likely to be in the top five.
Andy Flower hints at RCB’s top order in IPL 2024
Mohammed Siraj is the only Indian pacer with an international crown after the release of Harshal Patel. Reece Topley, England’s left-arm pacer, was retained while his England teammate David Willey was released.
Meanwhile, Mo Bobat, the team’s Director of Cricket, revealed the franchise’s auction strategy. He spoke about the need for good bowlers in the franchise to be competitive in the tournament.
“Mohammad Siraj is a vital part of what we do, so supporting Siraj with more bowling options, including overseas bowling options, will be a real priority for us in the future.” Bobat was quoted in a press release.
“Then we have a core of local spinners, which I think is quite strong. Some of them have had some opportunities over the last year or two and may play more prominent roles in the future. he added.
RCB traded Cameron Green from Mumbai Indians during the retention period. Green was traded for Rs 17.5 crore to Royal Challengers Bangalore. That allowed the franchise to invest in a renowned all-rounder who has been playing international cricket for quite some time and even made a mark in the IPL with Mumbai Indians.
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Ahead of the auction, RCB’s batting order seems to be in order and the franchise needs to reorganize its bowling attack. Releasing the likes of Hazlewood and Hasaranga, the top quality foreign bowlers, was a difficult decision to understand.
Over the years, RCB has bought players at huge prices and released them in a couple of seasons. They did the same with these three players who formed a core bowling group in recent years. The fact that Hasaranga has been injury prone of late could have led RCB to release him and look for an experienced spinner abroad.
The final player list has dropped from 333 to 332 following the release of three international players – Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam and Rehan Ahmed. Two Indian national players in Kaushal Tambe (Maharashtra) and Sahil Dhiwan (Rajasthan) have been added to the list, making the total 332.
Also Read: IPL 2024 Auction Live Updates: Date & Time, List of Sold Players, Live Streaming, Where to Watch, Stock Value, CSK Team, RCB Team, Mumbai Indians Team