Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will go after the Australia pacer Mitchell Starc in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 auction.
Chopra knows the Australia pacer has high demand in most of the franchises, but he sees RCB ready to spend a big amount on him. They have released 10 players ahead of the auction and have three overseas slots left after trading in Daniel Sams.
"RCB have 11 total slots vacant, out of which three are overseas slots. So you feel that they have to shop whole-heartedly because they don't have the overseas options in the playing XI ready. They have AB de Villiers, Joshua Phillipe, Zampa, Kane Richardson, and Daniel Sams. But are four out of these five going to play, I doubt it," said Chopra in a video on his YouTube channel.
RCB have a remaining purse of Rs 35.7 crore and they are capable of buying some big names in the auction. They have released three overseas placers, Chris Morris Dale Steyn, and Ishuru Udana.
"RCB will run after Mitchell Starc if he is available. They have money, so they can run after him. They can go to 15-19 crores also if they wish to do so," said Chopra.
The franchise will look to replace Aaron Finch in the opening spot, and an all-rounder too after the release of Morris. "I also see them running after Cameron Green because they do not have anyone in their middle order. They will also run after an opener. They have let Finch go, so Roy and David Malan are the only ones left," he said.
RCB's retained players: Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Adam Zampa, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Philippe, Kane Richardson, Pawan Deshpande
