IPL Auctions 2024 | AB de Villiers Urges RCB To Offload Harshal Patel & Aim For South African Dynamo
RCB is yet to win an IPL title (x.com)
In the midst of the Indian Premier League's (IPL) buzzing trading season, former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has pointed out potential strategic moves for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a team with which he has had a long and illustrious association.
This insight comes at a time when the cricket fraternity is also rife with rumours about Hardik Pandya potentially returning to his former team, the Mumbai Indians.
De Villiers has urged RCB to target Dewald Brevis, Move on from Harshal Patel
As the cricket world gears up for the IPL auction on December 19 in Dubai, teams are under the gun to finalize their retention lists by November 26. De Villiers, a seasoned veteran of the IPL, has proposed a bold strategy for RCB in a video on his YouTube channel. His recommendation is to release two of their star players - the 2021 Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel and the talented Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
This move, according to de Villiers, could prove financially advantageous for RCB. By letting go of Patel and Hasaranga, each valued at ₹10.75 crores, RCB would be able to free up a significant amount of ₹21.50 crores in their purse.
This increased budget would allow for greater flexibility and strategic depth in the auction. However, de Villiers acknowledges the inherent risks of this strategy, noting that while RCB could potentially buy back these players at the auction, there are no guarantees in this high-stakes game.
"RCB paid a lump sum for them (Harshal and Hasaranga) and releasing them will free up the purse. This is where the scouting will come in and the pool of players they are looking at. They might also go back into the auction and buy both of them, but it can also backfire. Mr. Flower seems to have some plans up his sleeve and this seems one of them," said De Villiers.
Additionally, de Villiers expressed his excitement over the possibility of South African young gun Dewald Brevis joining RCB. He opined that Brevis' playing style would be a perfect match for the conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB's home ground.
However, he also pointed out the potential reluctance of Mumbai Indians to release Brevis, considering their strategy of investing in young talents for long-term gains.
"I would love that (Brevis to RCB). I think the Chinnaswamy pitch will suit him to the T. I don't know whether Mumbai will release him because I know they have roped in a number of young players looking long term. So it wouldn't make sense for them to release them because they will be a part of their dream team in few years' time," added the RCB stalwart.
As the deadline for the final retention list approaches, the decisions made by the IPL franchises will be closely watched by fans and experts alike which will shape the dynamics for the upcoming IPL 2024 season.
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