Royal Challengers Bangalore have stepped up their game in the last two seasons. They have reached the playoffs last time around and are now well-poised to make it to the playoff in a convincing manner this season, with the 2016 finalists currently in 3rd place, behind CSK and DD with 5 wins and 2 losses.
In what could be a potential blow to the Challengers’ bid for their maiden IPL triumph, their overseas players in Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams and Finn Allen will not be available for the deciding leg of the IPL 2021.
RCB have consequently gone on and signed Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, and Singapore-born Australian all-rounder, Tim David, as replacements for the unavailable trio.
Hasaranga grabbed eyeballs after he put up a series of impressive displays against India in the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka. The 24-year-old was adjudged as the Player of the Series after he picked up seven scalps across the three-match series at an economy of 5.58.
The Sri Lankan’s batting ability could also allow RCB to bat deep, thus opening up a space for an extra bowler. His teammate Chameera is also set to join the franchice, and the fast bowler is a welcome addition to an already impressive RCB fast bowling unit.
Speaking about RCB’s latest signings, Mike Hesson in a virtual press conference said,
“We have made some changes to the squad pertaining to the situation. We have come a long way and have shown steady progress as a team.
The addition of Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David, and Dushmantha Chameera couldn’t have come at a better time in the replacement window, as we aim to continue with the momentum, building on our performance from earlier this year.”
“We have an extensive scouting program, Wanindu has been on our radar for a long time. We aren’t surprised by his success in recent times, he has been doing it for a while. We like his skill set.
We like the fact that he is a multi-skill cricketer, so he offers us the ability to bat a little bit deeper as well. That gives us a lot of exciting options.”
It is further understood that Kane Richardson and Scott Kuggelijn will be unavailable too, and an announcement regarding their replacement is expected in the coming days.
As it stands, their key overseas players AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Jamieson, and Daniel Christian will be available for selection barring any potential injury.
Bangalore will certainly look to build on the momentum that they had managed to generate in the first half of IPL 2021. The Virat Kohli-led side will be eager to finally get their hands on the coveted trophy, one that has eluded Kohli and RCB for a very long time.
RCB are set to leave for UAE on August 29, post the completion of their mandatory seven-day quarantine in Bangalore. They will play their first match of the second half of their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on September 20 in Abu Dhabi.
