Royal Challengers Bangalore seemingly have decided to rebuild their bowling attack ahead of the next Indian Premier League season.
Why else would they let go of three of their star bowlers ahead of the IPL 2024 auction slated for next month?
In a surprising move, RCB, who finished fifth on the points table last season, released the trio of Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga on the deadline day of retentions.
RCB have six available slots now of which three can be filled by overseas players.
They though have traded in allrounder Cameron Green who can bowl right-arm medium pace.
RCB coach Andy Flower explained the rationale behind the big calls the franchise had to take which will give them ‘flexibility’ during the auction.
“Harshal has been an excellent performer for RCB in the past. He is in our books a high-value player. In that he was in our books for Rs 10.75 crore, in our efforts to release some cash to give us flexibility and buying power in the auction, he was someone who we had to look closely at,” Flower told RCB.
“Wanindu Hasaranga was also a high-value player in monetary terms. So releasing that player into the auction gives us some amount of flexibility,” he added.
He also revealed that Australian Hazlewood will not be available for the first half of IPL 2024 as he’s expecting the birth of his child by end March.
“Josh Hazlewood, I just came off the phone from him actually. He pleasingly has a baby on the way and due by the end of March. So Josh won’t be with us and certainly not for the first half of the season,” Flower said.
“David Willey has just come off a very successful 50-over World Cup. I know him well. He has been an outstanding cricketer for whatever team he plays. We will keep an eye on him and how his auction goes as well,” he added.
RCB will enter the mini auction with a remaining purse of Rs 23.25 crore.
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