The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are gearing up for the IPL 2024 auction, as they look to end their title drought. The franchise has retained some of their key players, such as Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Mohammed Siraj, ahead of the auction. The aim is to bring in new talents and fill the gaps in their team composition.
RCB have also appointed Mo Bobat as the Director of Cricket, who has been the Performance Director of the England Cricket Board since 2019. Bobat has played a significant role in England’s success in the limited-overs formats, and he will work closely with RCB’s head coach Andy Flower, who has previously coached England to multiple titles.
RCB have a purse of Rs 23.25 crore remaining, and they will need to spend wisely to build a balanced and competitive squad.
Who are the players they might target in the auction? Here are five potential candidates:
Cameron Green:
The Australian all-rounder is a hot property in the T20 format. He can bat in the middle order, bowl medium pace, and field brilliantly. He was bought by Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 17.5 crore in the last auction, but he was traded to RCB in an all-cash deal. He could be a valuable addition to RCB’s squad, as he can provide stability and firepower to their batting unit.
Mitchell Starc:
The left-arm pacer is one of the best in the world, and he is set to make a comeback in the IPL after a long gap. He can bowl with pace, swing, and accuracy, and he can also contribute with the bat. He was part of the RCB squad in 2014 and 2015, but he missed the next three seasons due to injuries. He has a base price of Rs 2 crore, and he could be a key player for RCB, as they look to strengthen their bowling attack.
Rashid Khan:
The Afghan spinner is arguably the best T20 bowler in the world, and he has been a consistent performer for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has taken 95 wickets in 79 matches in the IPL, at an economy rate of 6.23. He can bowl in any situation, and he can also score some quick runs. He was released by SRH, and he could be a dream pick for RCB, as they lack a quality spinner in their squad.
Sam Curran:
The English all-rounder is a game-changer who can bat in the top order, bowl at the death, and field superbly. He was retained by Punjab Kings, but he missed most of the UAE leg of IPL 2021 due to injury. He could be a handy player for RCB, as he can provide balance and versatility to their squad.
Rachin Ravindra:
The New Zealand all-rounder is a rising star in the T20 format. He can bat in the top order, bowl left-arm spin, and field brilliantly. He was impressive in the 2023 World Cup, scoring 578 runs at a strike rate of 106 and taking five wickets. He has a base price of Rs 50 lakh, and he could be a bargain buy for RCB.
These are some of the players RCB could target in the IPL 2024 auction, but they will face tough competition from other teams. RCB have a reputation of being a smart and aggressive bidder, and they will hope to assemble a strong team for the upcoming season. Will they be able to win their maiden IPL title in 2024? The suspense is building up.
