Royal Challengers Bangalore is one IPL franchise that has always relied on superstar cricketers and well-known names to do the job for them. This requires them to be extremely active at the auctions. Hence, year-on-year, in every auction, we see the RCB management spend big to hire top cricketers. In this article, we take a look at five of the most expensive buys by RCB in IPL history.
5) Dinesh Karthik – INR 10.5 Cr (IPL 2015)
Dinesh Karthik is a traveller when it comes to IPL. He has represented teams like Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Lions in the tournament. Currently, he is plying his trade at KKR. Considering he is a domestic wicket-keeper batsman, a category where efficient players are rarely available, DK has been subject to some massive bids at IPL auctions.
Delhi brought him for INR 12.5 CR in IPL 2014, but the Tamil Nadu man could not set the season on fire. He was released before the subsequent auctions, and then RCB spent INR 10.5 CR on him in IPL 2015 bidding event. However, with just 141 runs scored in the entire season, he was released back to the auctions.
4) Tymal Mills – INR 12 Cr (IPL 2017)
Tymal Mills happens to be one of the most expensive buys by RCB in IPL. The English left-arm seamer stands at No.4 on this list. A congenital back condition caused an obstacle in his career, but he worked his way around to become a good T20 bowler. He was impressive when he played against India in a T20I tournament just before the 2017 auction.
After a spectacular campaign in 2016, where they reached the finals, RCB had identified fast bowling as one area that needed an upgrade. Hence, they went after Mills, a player who was in the news at that time. However, over the season, he could pick up just five wickets in five games and was later released.
3) Yuvraj Singh – INR 14 Cr (IPL 2014)
Although Yuvraj Singh was an icon player in IPL 2008, he just could not do well in the competition. This is despite the fact that Yuvi was arguably India’s best batsman in T20Is at that time.
Hence, he could never settle in any franchise and before IPL 2014, Yuvi found himself in the auctions. RCB liked the idea of pairing him with Virat, AB and Gayle, and therefore, broke the bank for him. The southpaw had a couple of good outings, but RCB released him in an effort to lower the signing amount. The tactic did not work as in the next auctions, Yuvi was brought by Delhi for INR 16 CR.
2) Glenn Maxwell – INR 14.25 Cr (IPL 2021)
Glenn Maxwell is one cricketer who has enjoyed being in an IPL Auction. He got sold for INR 10.75 CR in IPL 2020 Auction to the Punjab outfit but had one of his worst seasons in which he could not execute even a single six. Naturally, he was released back to the auctions.
While the experts felt Maxi would go for a lesser amount, CSK and RCB had other plans. They were hell-bent on procuring him, and hence, the bid escalated easily to above INR 10 CR. Eventually, RCB purchased him for INR 14.25 Cr, and in the first phase of IPL 2021, the Aussie has repaid the faith with some timely performances.
1) Kyle Jamieson – INR 15 Cr (IPL 2021)
The last few auctions have seen the trend emerging wherein a pace bowler is going for a huge amount. However, this went to a whole new level at IPL 2021 Auctions. The likes of Chris Morris, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith all earned massive bids. Kyle Jamieson also belonged to this group.
Although he was still a newbie in T20 cricket, RCB had to target Kyle as no other decent options were left on the table. They were forced to pay a sum of INR 15 CR, an amount that happens to be the highest they have paid to a player at the auctions. The big Kiwi, though, surprisingly did well in the first phase of IPL 2021. Hence, he tops this list of most expensive buys by RCB in IPL history
