In the IPL 2024 auction, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will once again set out to build a squad that could win them a maiden IPL trophy, something that has eluded them for the past 16 seasons.
When is the IPL 2024 auction – date and venue?
The IPL 2024 auction is scheduled for December 19 in Dubai. This is the first time ever that an IPL auction will be held outside India. The total purse this time for each franchise has been increased from INR 95 crore to INR 100 crore.
RCB failed to reach the playoffs in IPL 2023. So they are expected to release a number of players, especially the out-of-form ones who occupy heavy prices in their purse.
2 players who can be released by RCB ahead of IPL 2024 auction:
Harshal Patel – INR 10.75 crore
The Purple Cap winner of IPL 2021, Harshal Patel is likely to be released by RCB, although the franchise could look to buy him back at a cheaper price. Patel’s performance in IPL 2023 wasn’t up to the standards of his high price of INR 10.75 crore.
In IPL 2023, Harshal picked 14 wickets in 14 games and was very expensive, leaking at 9.66 runs per over. With a number of overseas bowlers impressing in the World Cup 2023, RCB might want to shuffle their bowling a bit and make up space in their purse for overseas pacers by releasing Harshal Patek.
Anuj Rawat – INR 3.4 crore
Anuj Rawat was one of the most disappointing youngsters in IPL 2023, despite RCB putting huge faith in him by playing him ahead of Mahipal Lomror. In 9 matches in IPL 2023, Anuj Rawat scored only 91 runs at an ordinary strike rate of 128 with a highest score of 29*.
In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rawat hit just one fifty in 7 innings, and had a strike rate of 121 and average of 29. Anuj is also amongst the most expensive players in the RCB squad, hogging a price of INR 3.4 crore. So he’s likely to be released by RCB ahead of IPL 2024 auction.
