Punjab Kings (PBKS) batting consultant Julian Wood recalled the reason behind former head coach Anil Kumble got the franchise to buy Sri Lanka’s hard-hitter Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the IPL 2022 auction.
Rajapaksa has had a difficult relationship to his fitness as he was dropped from the Sri Lankan side after he failed to meet the required fielding standards and even retired from international cricket at the start of 2022.
He would unretire, but missed tours to Australia and India on the grounds of fitness issues. However, during the IPL 2022 auction, PBKS decided to snap up the Sri Lankan batter for his base price. This was done despite the franchise officials telling then coach Anil Kumble not to go for the Sri Lankan batter due to his fitness issues.
However, Kumble had seen Rajapaksa play and desperately wanted the left-hander in the PBKS unit.
"When Anil Kumble saw him play, he said I've got to pick him. He was told don't pick him, he's not fit enough. Fair play to Kumble because he said 'I don't care if he's fit, he can hit the ball for a six. I don't want him to run a 100m in 10 seconds, I want him to hit the ball for a six'," PBKS batting consultant Julian Wood told Cricbuzz.
Rajapaksa was one of the stars for Punjab last season, scoring 206 runs. Even in the IPL 2023 season, the Sri Lankan got Punjab off to a flier, scoring a half-century in the team's victory over Kolkata Knight Riders.
After reversing his retirement, Rajapaksa improved his fitness standards, giving up delicacies like chocolates and put work in place to improve his fitness standards.
