Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson explained why the franchise bought Faf du Plessis and also called him a “highly experienced player”.
Veteran cricketer Faf du Plessis was acquired for Rs 7 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL 2022 auction on Saturday. The South African batter was involved in a bidding war between RCB, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Delhi Capitals (DC).
Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson Regards Faf du Plessis’ Experience Will Help Balancing The Side
A player with a lot of experience, Faf Du Plessis can become a pivotal figure for the franchise in the upcoming season and has been backed by RCB’s Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson.
Speaking to the outfit’s social media handle, Hesson said, “We see him as a highly experienced player at the top of the order. It allows us to look at how we balance our side.”
“He is also a really important leader in the group so really delighted to have him”, he further added.
Faf Du Plessis represented CSK last season (IPL 2021) and was a crucial member as they defeated KKR in the final. Last season Faf du Plessis fell short of the ‘Orange Cup’ award with just 2 runs as he scored 633 runs with an average of 45.21 and a strike rate of 138.20 which included 6 fifties.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Also Bought Harshal Patel And Wanindu Hasaranga
Last year’s Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel has also been bought by RCB for Rs 10.75 crore. Meanwhile, Sri Lankan bowler Wanindu Hasaranga has also been picked for the same price. The duo represented RCB last season too but neither was retained. Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel had registered 32 wickets last season, which also made him the highest Indian wicket-taker in a single IPL season. Despite his efforts, RCB were knocked out in the Eliminator.
After retaining former captain Virat Kohli, Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were proactive on the first day of the IPL auction 2022 as they signed some star players for massive amounts.
There is a change in the middle order as Dinesh Karthik will potentially replace AB De Villiers, who retired at the end of last season. The only player that Royal Challengers Bangalore has once again signed is Harshal Patel. Pacer Josh Hazlewood is the new addition to the squad. In terms of the spin attack, Royal Challengers Bangalore seem to have replaced Yuzvendra Chahal with Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
Meanwhile, the auction also saw Shikhar Dhawan getting picked by Punjab Kings (PBKS) for Rs 8.25 crore. Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was acquired by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for Rs 5 crore.
Ishan Kishan was Mumbai Indian’s first buy of the day and also the franchise’s most expensive in tournament history. Ishan Kishan went for a jaw-dropping Rs 15.25 crore. Kolkata were hell-bent on getting Shreyas Iyer, even if it meant he came at a price of Rs 12.25 crore.
In the case of Deepak Chahar, CSK waited till Delhi and SRH pushed past the Rs 10-crore mark and Rajasthan Royals too threw their hat in the ring. But they left the competition behind with a Rs 14-crore bid for the 29-year-old pacer.
But Delhi Capitals did not back down when Punjab Kings pursued all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who eventually went for Rs 10.75 crore. This was the same price commanded by Harshal Patel and Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, both of whom were welcomed back by Royal Challengers Bangalore.