'They Promised To Go All-Out For Me'- Yuzvendra Chahal Reveals RCB's Auction Betrayal
Chahal was a prolific performer for RCB [Twitter]
Ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) made a strategic reshuffle of their lineup. To the astonishment of many, the team released their star leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, who had been a core part of the RCB since 2014 and had represented the team in 114 matches.
Yuzvendra Chahal opens up on RCB snub
Chahal recently spoke out about his ouster from RCB during an interview on a podcast hosted by YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadiya. He revealed that despite promises from the RCB of being repurchased at auction, such a thing never materialized.
Chahal detailed his eight-year tenure with the RCB as one that significantly contributed to his cricket career. He credited the franchise for his rise to the Indian national team and his longstanding rapport with team captain Virat Kohli. Dismissing rumours of high salary demands, Chahal emphasized that he was well aware of his worth.
“I played there for 8 years. RCB basically gave me the India cap, because they gave me a chance to perform. From the very first match, Virat bhaiya showed trust on me. So, it felt bad, because it almost feels like family when you spend 8 years at a team. A lot of rumours came in like I asked for a huge amount of money. I clarified at the time that there wasn't anything like that. I know what I deserve,” said Chahal.
What particularly upset the leg-spinner was the lack of communication from the RCB management about his release. He lamented the absence of a farewell conversation after his longstanding service to the team. The disappointment deepened when the team didn't back him at the auction as they had promised, which left him feeling angered and betrayed.
“What I felt really bad about was there was no phone call, no communication. At least have a talk. I had played 114 matches for them. In auction, they promised me that they will go all-out for me. I said, fine. When I wasn't picked there, I was very angry. I gave them 8 years. Chinnaswamy was my favourite ground. I didn't talk to RCB coaches. The first match I played against them, I didn't talk to anyone,” added the 32-year-old spinner.
Meanwhile, Chahal has flourished since joining the Rajasthan Royals. He led their bowling attack and bagged the Purple Cap for claiming 27 wickets in just 17 matches in his debut season with the team.
Chahal's total haul stands at 48 wickets from 31 matches with the IPL's inaugural champions. The leggie also became the leading wicket-taker in IPL”s history during the 2023 season and now has 187 scalps in 145 games to his name.
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