The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), after retaining just three players from last year, were in a hunt to rebuild their entire lineup. They managed to get a few high-profile players who could be potential match-winners for them in the upcoming season. However, they also had to let go of some of the players who have been associated with them for a long time.
Indian spearhead Mohammed Siraj is one of them. Many expected RCB to use RTM for Siraj, but that was not the case. The pacer will now play for Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season. However, the 2016 finalists did bag a huge Indian pacer, Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Here we look at the reasons why RCB replaced Siraj with Bhuvneshwar.
- IPL Veteran
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been around IPL for a long time now. He has immense experience in getting wickets which will always come in handy. In the 176 matches that he has played, Bhuvneshwar has 181 wickets and an economy of just over 7.5. He currently is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the league.
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- Highly effective in Powerplays
The swing bowler has been very effective in powerplays. He gets early wickets that allow the team to put more pressure on the batters. He has 75 wickets to his name in powerplays in the IPL. The RCB management will have to use him well in the early stages of the game.
- Record at M. Chinnaswamy
RCB’s home ground, the M. Chinnaswamy is a nightmare for bowlers. The flat wicket and short boundaries make it very easy for the batters to hit big runs. However, Bhuvaneshwar has a decent record at this venue. In 11 T20 games that he has played at this venue, he has taken 12 wickets. However, his economy of just 7.6 makes him a perfect candidate to bowl at this ground.
Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.