IPL 2023: Players that RCB could release before mini-auction

Royal Challengers Bangalore have always had the top-rated cricketers throughout 15 years of the Indian Premier League - but never have they had the best suitable bunch to win the silverware. 

Sometimes they have lacked faster bowlers and sometimes middle-order batters. 

RCB's batch of 2022 (PC: iplt20.com)

Last season, too, the Bangalore-based franchise over-relied on a few and when those few failed, RCB collapsed. With this current crop of players, the Faf du Plessis-led force needs a few pieces to solve their jigsaw - i.e. a finisher, a wily spinner and a death specialist; preferably a foreigner. But for that, we would need a lot of greenbacks in the purse before the IPL 2023 mini-auctions scheduled for last this month. 

As of yet, RCB have INR 7.30 crores left after the departure of Jason Behrendorff - meaning they would need a lot more releasing if they want to fix their issues with retail therapy. Thus let us analyse the players RCB could release.

Anuj Rawat

One of the most explosive young batters in the domestic circuit, but one of the most inconsistent ones as well. The 23-year-old southpaw was picked by the Royal Challengers for a whopping INR 3.4 crores as a replacement for Devdutt Padikkal. However, the youngster miserably failed to deliver on the big stage as he could score a mere 129 runs at a strike rate of 109.32 - with just a single fifty in 8 IPL outings. 

Rawat after his maiden IPL fifty (PC: iplt20.com)

Post his maiden IPL season, Rawat has played only 6 T20 matches, where again he failed to leave a mark as his run-tally was 34 with a best of 13 runs. Backing a youngster should be any franchise's motto, but at this stage; RCB should save bigbucks and buy horses for courses.

David Willey

In terms of numbers, 2022 has been the year for the English new-ball bowler - however; heading into a new season, RCB doesn't need what he brings to the table. He might be a pacer who takes wickets up front and knows how to use the long leavers, but all the other pacers that his franchise possesses are somewhat the same. Plus the foreigner tag goes against Willey.

With the money that Bangalore would get after releasing the Englishman, i.e. INR 2 crores, they could bag a player from the domestic scene that they need more.

Siddarth Kaul

The year when Sunrisers Hyderabad won, the Punjab seamer was one of the prime reasons for their triumph. However, since 2016; Kaul has seen a huge dip in form - at least in the IPL. Batters have started to pick his variations and his lengths have been pretty predictable in this fastest-running sport.

Siddarth Kaul in RCB's colours (PC: Twitter)

Bangalore acquired his services for his base price (INR 75 Lakhs), but he again joined the troop of similar kind of seamers. The lastest edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy has been one to watch out for Kaul as he finished not only finished as Punjab's highest wicket-taker but the one with the most wickets in the tournament. But the Red-and-Black Brigade has far more experienced and talented pacers than the Punjab-gun. 

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