The Sri Lankan combo of Dushmantha Chameera and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, as well as Australia’s Tim David, have been added to Royal Challengers Bangalore’s team for the remainder of the IPL 2021.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise announced on Saturday that they had added Sri Lankan fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, as well as Australia’s big-hitting Tim David, to their team for the remainder of the IPL 2021.
Following the unavailability of some overseas players for the second half of the season, the three replacements were named as part of the team’s reshuffle. While Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa had returned to Australia for personal reasons during the first half, it was reported that Daniel Sams, as well as New Zealand’s Fin Allen and Scott Kuggeleijn, would not be part of RCB’s campaign due to their commitments with the national team.
RCB’s Mike Hesson remarked during a press conference that “we have made some changes to the team according to the circumstances.” “We’ve come a long way as a group and have made consistent progress. Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David, and Dushmantha Chameera’s additions couldn’t have come at a better time during the replacement window, as we look to maintain our momentum and improve on our early-season success.”
In another significant announcement, RCB stated that head coach Simon Katich has stepped down, and Hesson will take over as head coach for the remainder of the season, in addition to his current duty as Director of Cricket Operations, RCB.
“Simon Katich, the RCB’s head coach, has decided to resign as of today, primarily for personal reasons, and we, as management, fully support and back him in this choice. Mike Hesson will take over as head coach until the completion of the tournament, as per the [franchise’s] business continuity plan “Vice-president and franchise head Rajesh Menon said.
Chameera and Hasaranga were key players in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series victory over India in July, winning 2-1 in T20Is, with both bowlers putting in strong performances. Hasaranga replaces Zampa in the team, while Chameera replaces Daniel Sams. For the rest of the series, David takes Allen’s place.
Hasaranga, the No. 2-ranked T20I bowler, was named Player of the Series in the T20I leg after picking up seven wickets, including a four-wicket haul in the decisive game, to become the series’ leading wicket-taker. The 24-year-old made his debut against Sri Lanka in 2020, taking 4/9 and guiding his team to a seven-wicket victory in Colombo. In the second ODI, he took the wickets of Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, and Krunal Pandya with figures of 3/37 from 10 overs.
“One thing we can say is that Adam Zampa has been replaced by Wanindu Hasaranga. Hasaranga is a welcome addition to the team. He provides us with some balance, obviously in terms of wrist spin, as well as plenty of batting skills “Hesson explained.
Chameera, like his Sri Lankan teammate, was outstanding against India, taking four wickets in three T20Is. Chameera dismissed Shaw and India skipper Dhawan for first-ball ducks in the first and third matches, respectively. Chameera also took six wickets in three T20Is in England, with a best of 4/17 at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl.
“Chameera is another member of the Sri Lankan contingent who is currently bowling exceptionally well. I’ve coached against him, so I’m familiar with him. He has genuine speed, and his white-ball game has improved dramatically in recent years “Hesson explained.
David has played 15 Twenty20 Internationals for Australia, amassing 558 runs with four half-centuries at an average of 46.50 and a strike rate of 158.42. David, who is now playing for the Southern Brave in The Hundred, recently scored 140, 52, and 102 in the Royal London One-Day Cup for Surrey. If that isn’t enough, the fact that David scored 180 runs in six matches for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League at an average of 45 makes him a useful weapon in the subcontinent.
Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions, and Chennai Super Kings, the three-time champions, arrived in the UAE last week, while the Delhi Capitals arrived on Saturday. In the case of RCB, Menon revealed the details of their travel intentions.
“The Indian players, with the exception of those in England, as well as the support personnel and team management, will meet in Bangalore today. Following that, we shall be quarantined in Bangalore for seven days, during which time we will be subjected to three Covid tests “Menon said.
“On August 29, in the afternoon, the team would fly out on a chartered flight. Once we get in the UAE, we will be subjected to a six-day strict quarantine and the BCCI testing process. The international players and support staff will arrive on August 29, after which they will be quarantined for six days. We’ll be on the field once we’re all cleared, with a clear practise schedule drawn up by Mike and the [coaching] crew.”
On September 20, 2021, RCB will play Kolkata Knight Riders at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi to begin Season 14 of the IPL.