The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will have some of their key players missing the second-leg of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) and thus have roped in Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the remainder of IPL 14 scheduled to be played in UAE from September 19.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra, while speaking in his latest YouTube video backed the Bangalore-based franchise and called Hasaranga’s addition a ‘phenomenal inclusion’.
“Adam Zampa is not there, so they have taken Hasaranga for him. Interestingly enough, there was a doubt about his availability earlier and was thus not picked in the auction. But everyone believed that he should have been picked because he has done well whenever he has played T20 cricket, whether for his country or otherwise,” Chopra said in a YouTube video on his channel.
The right-arm leg-spinner performed really well in the recently concluded home T20I series against India in which he was the leading wicket-taker of the series and also bagged Man of the Series award.
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“He did an amazing job in Sri Lanka. He was contributing in every match he played. So Hasaranga, I think is a phenomenal inclusion. If you want, you can play Hasaranga along with Chahal. You can go in with two wrist spinners,” the 43-year-old added.
The cricketer-turned-commentator then talked about inclusion of Dushmantha Chameera and Tim David to the RCB squad.
“Kane Richardson has also opted out, he is not coming. So they have got Dushmantha Chameera. He is also a very decent bowler. We saw him recently bowling well in Sri Lanka. You expect from him also that he will do alright,” the right-hand batsman said.
“Daniel Sams is also not coming. They have got Tim David. His T20 numbers are outstanding. Singapore-born Australian player. He has hit with an excellent strike rate and played for a lot of teams - Perth Scorchers, Hobart, St Lucia Kings and now in the Hundred. He has been playing in a lot of T20/Hundred kind of leagues,” Chopra signed off.
