Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is one of the three teams out of the original eight franchises that is yet to win an IPL title. Even though the side was really close to winning on two occasions back in 2009 and 2016 when they made it to the finals but failed to get over the line.
As far as IPL 2021 is concerned, the Virat Kohli-led franchise performed consistently but still was knocked out of the tournament after losing the Eliminator to the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
With two new teams expected to be added in the IPL 2022, the existing teams might be allowed to retain some players ahead of the mega auction ahead of IPL 2022, former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir had his say on which players RCB should be retained for next year.
When asked about whether RCB would retain the trio of Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and Yuzvendra Chahal for the next edition of the IPL, Gambhir said, “Yes, I would just want to add that between Harshal Patel and Chahal, one can be picked. So, it's up to them whether they want to pick either Chahal or Harshal.”
Gambhir then weighed in on RCB not retaining AB de Villiers after a dismal UAE-leg of IPL 2021 by saying, “Yes, because I think they will retain Glenn Maxwell since he is the future, and AB de Villiers is not.”
Since Virat Kohli had announced quitting as the RCB captain after IPL 2021, the Delhi-based cricketer Gautam Gambhir felt the timing of this decision was not right and the ace right-hand batter should’ve waited till the end of the tournament.
“I guess the timing wasn't right. If he had to quit as captain, he could have done that even after the tournament. He was in this situation, where it wasn’t like RCB was not in a position to qualify. They were pretty much in so I believe that had he resigned after the tournament, it would have been better,” the cricketer-turned-commentator told ESPNCricinfo.
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
