RCB IPL 2021 Auction Strategy: With Rs 35.9 Cr available, Royal Challengers Bangalore to target all-rounder, top pacer and a batsman

February 4, 2021

IPL 2021 Auction – Royal Challengers Bangalore Auction strategy: Virat Kohli-led RCB will be going into the IPL auctions with the purse of Rs 35.9 crore. The team will be eyeing to add a seamer, an all-rounder and a top-order/middle-order batsman at the auctions scheduled for February 18 in Chennai.

Notably, RCB had released a maximum number of players (10) ahead of the upcoming IPL auctions – Chris Morris, Aaron Finch, Moeen Ali, Isuru Udana, Dale Steyn, Shivam Dube, Umesh Yadav, Pawan Negi, Gurkeerat Mann, Parthiv Patel.

Meanwhile, RCB have retained their core team – Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers, Devdutt Padikkal, Gurkeerat Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Joshua Philippe, Pavan Deshpande, Shahbaz Ahamad, Adam Zampa and now the Bengaluru-based franchise will aim to revamp their squad, which can help them win their maiden IPL title.

IPL 2021 auction: RCB need a top/middle-order batsman with power-hitting prowess

With Aaron Finch and Parthiv Patel released, RCB will want a top-order batsman who can take charge from the very first ball of his innings. The Kohli-led franchise can target current T20 world No.1, Dawid Malan, who is a late bloomer in the international circuit.

The southpaw has been one of the most consistent performers in England’s County Cricket for Middlesex. However, it was 2016 which turned out to be a turning point in his career. He plundered an unbeaten 126-ball 185 against Sri Lanka A in Northampton – a record score for the Lions.

From there on, his exploits with the bat became world-famous. From hitting a swashbuckling 44-ball 78 on debut to scoring 154 runs against West Indies in 2017 which included two half-centuries. He will fit right in RCB’s upper-middle-order.

Also, Kerala opener Mohammad Azharuddeen is another option for RCB to snap up to partner Devdutt Paddikkal as an opener. He shot to fame scoring a 54 ball 137 not out against a strong Mumbai side at the beginning of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in 2021 and throughout the tournament, he has scored 214 runs at an average of 53.5.\

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IPL 2021 auctions: RCB eye to strengthen the pace attack

With Umesh Yadav and Isuru Udana both released, and Dale Steyn unavailable this year, RCB will be active in the pace market. RCB want a pacer that can deliver in death overs and work well with young pacers Saini and Siraj. Given the need for an experienced pacer, they can go for Australian speedster Mitchell Starc, who is not only lethal in death overs but also bring experience to the table.

IPL 2021 auction: RCB in a desperate need of all-rounder

RCB are short of all-rounders after releasing Chris Morris, Moeen Ali and Shivam Dube. The Bengaluru-based franchise can target Shakib Al Hasan. Also, RCB can again buy Morris but for a lesser price as he was roped in by the franchise for INR 10 crore in IPL 2020. But an injury prevented him from playing all the matches in the previous season. He picked up 11 wickets and scored 34 runs from 9 games.