It seems that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are looking to rebuild their bowling attack ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season.

On the last day of the IPL trade, retention and release window, RCB surprisingly let go of the trio of Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Heading into the auction, scheduled for December 19 in Dubai, RCB have six available slots and three can be filled by overseas players.

Meanwhile, the Bangalore-based franchise has traded pace-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green from Mumbai Indians in an all-cash deal worth INR 17.50 crore.

With the auction around the corner, RCB coach Andy Flower explained the logic behind the release of Harshal, Hasaranga and Hazlewood.

“Harshal has been an excellent performer for RCB in the past. He is in our books a high-value player. In that he was in our books for Rs 10.75 crore, in our efforts to release some cash to give us flexibility and buying power in the auction, he was someone who we had to look closely at,” Flower told RCB.

“Wanindu Hasaranga was also a high-value player in monetary terms. So releasing that player into the auction gives us some amount of flexibility,” he added.

Flower also revealed that Hazlewood won’t be available for the first half of IPL 2024 as he’s expecting the birth of his child.

“Josh Hazlewood, I just came off the phone from him actually. He pleasingly has a baby on the way and due by the end of March. So Josh won’t be with us and certainly not for the first half of the season,” he said.

“David Willey has just come off a very successful 50-over World Cup. I know him well. He has been an outstanding cricketer for whatever team he plays. We will keep an eye on him and how his auction goes as well,” the coach further stated.

RCB will enter the IPL 2024 auction with a remaining purse of INR 23.25 crore.