IPL 2019: 4 spinners who RCB should target at the auction
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) finished sixth in the last season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Their batting and bowling were dependent heavily on Kohli, AB De Villiers and Umesh Yadav respectively. RCB's spinners too weren't as effective as was expected of them and leaked many runs without picking up many wickets. Washington Sundar didn't perform as brilliantly as expected and Murugan Ashwin failed to deliver as well. He has been released ahead of the auction.
Released players: Quinton de Kock, Mandeep Singh, Brendon McCullum, Chris Woakes, Corey Anderson, Sarfraz Khan, Pavan Deshpande, Manan Vohra, Murugan Ashwin, Anirudhha Joshi, Aniket Choudhary.
Retained players: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Kulwant Khejroliya, Moeen Ali, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Tim Southee, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini.
Here are 4 spin bowlers who RCB should target at the auction.
#4- Akila Dananjaya
Sri Lanka's Akila Dananjaya can be a decent option for RCB. The off spinner was released by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the auction. He has had a decent T20 career so far and is a very economical bowler. He is ranked 12th in the ICC ODI Bowler's Rankings and is a very experienced player. In 51 matches, he has picked up 56 wickets at an economy rate of 7.22 and average of 23.42.
Though RCB have players like Moeen Ali and Washington Sundar, it would be an added bonus if they add him to their roster. He can be a differential and can be a replacement spinner and add to their bench strength. With not many bids likely to come for him, he can be a good buy for them.
#3- Varun Chakravarthy
He can become India's own mystery spinner if given the opportunity. Varun Chakravarthy made his mark with his performance in TNPL 2018. He played a pivotal role in the Siechem Madurai Panthers' campaign and picked up 9 wickets in 10 matches at a great economy rate of 4.70.
RCB have had a habit of signing quality players across the border in Tamil Nadu and will look to sign him. Though other teams might go for him, RCB can emerge winners in the race for him. He can succeed like how Mujeeb did last season.
#2- Adil Rashid
The England leg spinner can be a great option for many teams to consider this auction. He's in the 4th place in the ICC T20 Bowlers' Rankings. He is very experienced and is one of the best spinners in the world right now. Signing him can bring support to Yuzvendra Chahal and if Kohli wants to rest Chahal with the World Cup in mind, he can even lead the spin bowling attack.
He has picked up 38 wickets in 22 matches in ODIs at an economy rate of 5.37 and at an average of 26.42. He's been even better in T20Is this year and has picked up 12 wickets in 9 matches with a great economy rate of 6.83 and an average of 20.20. He can help them put pressure on opposition batsmen and control the middle parts of the game.
#1- Adam Zampa
The Aussie leg spinner is in great form right now, having picked up 4 wickets in 2 bowling occasions in the T20I series against India. He also had a great economy of 5.5 and troubled the Indian batsmen throughout and even scalped Indian skipper Virat Kohli once. He sits at the fifth place in the ICC T20 Bowlers' Rankings.
He has a great T20 record and has picked up 111 wickets in 96 matches with a good economy rate of 7.24 and an average of 21.56. He had one of his best seasons in IPL 2016, playing for the Rising Pune Super Giants, when he picked up 6 wickets for just 19 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad and it was the best bowling figure in that season.
His experience and accuracy can make him very dangerous and it is tough for the batsmen to escape. Such bowlers are on high demand and RCB can surely shell out some money to acquire his services.