Wanindu Hasaranga joins RCB

Sri Lankan leg spinning all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga joined Royal Challengers Bangalore after the franchise has signed up 3 overseas cricketers ahead of the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

RCB also picked Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera and Singapore’s Tim David. The franchise was forced to bring in new overseas talent after New Zealand’s Finn Allen and Scott Kuggeleijn were picked for national duty for the series against Bangladesh. Aussie cricketers Adam Zampa, Daniel Sams and Kane Richardson declared themselves unavailable for the second leg of the tournament.

Mike Hesson has taken reigns from Simon Katich as head coach. Katich has stepped down from the role due to personal reasons.

Hasaranga featured in 60 T20 matches scoring 762 runs at a strike rate of 133.21. He picked 80 wickets in 55 innings at a devastating average of 14.95 at a economy rate of 6.37 with a best of 5-26 to his name.

“We’ve got an extensive scouting program and Wanindu’s certainly been on our radar for a long time,” Mike Hesson said. “In fact, when we needed a replacement last IPL, he was certainly a person we called upon. It’s certainly not a recency factor, we’re not surprised by his success in recent times, he’s been doing it for a while. As I said he’s a multi-skilled cricketer, he offers us an option to bat a little bit deeper if we choose to play the overseas spinner alongside Chahal.

“Chameera also, so another [from] Sri Lankan contingent. He’s bowling extremely well at the moment. He’s got genuine pace and his white-ball game has developed significantly.”

Lankan pacer Chameera featured in 60 T20s and picked 59 wickets at an average of 27.00. This express pacer has an economy rate of 7.60.

Meanwhile RCB roped in Tim David who was a part of BBL franchises in the past. David played 49 T20s scoring 1171 runs at a prolific strike rate of 155.09. He averages 36.59 with the bat and scored 6 half centuries with a highest score of 92* to his name. David featured in 14 T20 International Matches for Singapore and scored 558 runs at an average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 158.52. The 25-year-old right handed batsman can also bowl off-break and picked 5 wickets in T20Is