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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who have earned the tag of chokers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) have left out nine players ahead of the mega auctions of the 2019 edition of the IPL.

Meanwhile, RCB has struggled over the years despite boasting a strong squad. The maximum they could reach is the finals but have lost all the three times. And now, in a bid to change their track record, they have started the off-field preparations on a high.

Bangalore have released nine players ahead of the auction including star players Brendon McCullum and Chris Woakes. New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson is the other overseas player who got a release letter from the franchise. RCB roped in the services of all the three players last season.

Woakes was bought for Rs. 7.40 crores. — BCCI

Among the Indian players, Sarfaraz Khan, who was initially retained last season, has been released alongside the likes of Manan Vohra and Murugan Ashwin. RCB managed to retain 14 players, including seamer Navdeep Saini, who didn’t feature even once last season. Apart from the usual suspects Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Yuzvendra Chahal, they have retained the services of Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar and Parthiv Patel amongst the Indian players.

The overseas pool includes Moeen Ali, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee and Nathan Coulter-Nile. In addition to, the franchise had already traded Mandeep Singh for Marcus Stoinis.

Retained:

Virat Kohli (c), Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Kulwant Khejroliya, Parthiv Patel, Pawan Negi, Umesh Yadav, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, AB de Villiers, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Tim Southee, Nathan Coulter-Nile