Ahead of the IPL 2024 mini auctions, Royal Challengers Bangalore et go of 11 players on the retention deadline day. As the mini auctions, slated for December 19 in the UAE, approach, former South African and Royal Challengers Bangalore batter AB de Villiers expressed reservations about RCB’s bowling lineup.
ABDV Is Worried About RCB Before IPL 2024 Auction
AB de Villiers believes that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) should focus on bolstering their bowling department with additional firepower in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2024) mini-auction. He highlighted that RCB has released bowlers who have been match-winners for them in the past.
RCB parted ways with players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood. Only the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Reece Topley are left among the bowlers with international experience.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers said: “It is the area where I would be worried. Obviously, there is Mohammed Siraj there, Reece Topley, and some experience there, but if you see the released players list, they let go of Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood. Those three have won them a lot of games in the last couple of seasons, especially Hazlewood; he had just this way of controlling that bowling lineup,”
AB de Villiers Highlighted The Biggest Weakness Of RCB
The experienced RCB player also recognized the franchise’s historical weakness in terms of their bowling. He emphasized how the team’s bowling performance has been a factor in losing numerous matches in the past. He added:
“It has been a well-known fact that RCB’s bowling has been an area of weakness over the years. Yes, the batters also made a mess at times, but you need to play as a team. You need to gel together and understand each other. More often than not, there has been this feeling of making silly mistakes, not getting the discipline right, and not doing the basics well under pressure. We know how difficult it is to bowl at the Chinnaswamy Stadium,”
