The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) revealed in a new video posted on their official social media accounts that the franchise paid an additional INR 75 million for Sri Lankan player Wanindu Hasaranga during the Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction in Bengaluru in 2022.
At the Indian Premier League 2022 super auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore purchased huge names like Wanindu Hasaranga, Faf du Plessis, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, and Dinesh Karthik.
Sri Lankan superstar Hasaranga and pacer Harshal Patel were the team’s most costly purchases. The franchise paid INR 10.75 crore to get the services of the two players listed above.
Royal Challengers Bangalore published a video on Sunday that was filmed prior of the auction, in which RCB’s director of cricket operations Mike Hesson referred to Hasaranga as the team’s most significant international acquisition. It was also stated that Hasaranga had been given a budget of INR 10 crore by the Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“Hasaranga is our most major foreign acquisition,” says the company. Hesson said, “We have budgeted 10 (crore) there.”
“We have already averaged INR 8.5 (crore) in our simulated auctions, which provides us some room to spend and manage this expenditure.”
“Because he’s such an important individual, we have to spend heavily.” After all, no one else does what he does in terms of being able to bat in that position and giving that balance.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar, the head coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, remarked about Wanindu Hasaranga’s accession to the squad:
Mock Auction planning: Wanindu Hasaranga
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 27, 2022
Mike Hesson and Co. had Hasaranga as their main overseas target well ahead of the #IPLMegaAuction. Did they spend more than they had budgeted? Why did they go after him in particular? All the answers here!#PlayBold #WeAreChallengers pic.twitter.com/VtYbN3OZkj
“For starters, he’s an RCB player. He’s a player that has excelled for Sri Lanka in every match he’s appeared in. His T20 performance was outstanding, and he’s a multi-talented player.”
We’d attempt to acquire Yuzi if we knew we could get him — Mike Hesson
In the same video, RCB director of cricket operations Mike Hesson said that they would have wanted to bring back leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
“If we thought we could get Yuzi, we’d go out of our way to acquire him.” Yuzi is one of our favourite people. The fact that he’s coming up when he’s coming up, (combined with) the volatility and probability of obtaining him, especially with teams with a larger budget, makes it so hazardous that if you don’t get Hasaranga, you’re stuck. That’s the danger, and that’s the volatility,” Hesson added.
