In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have a sizable fan following. Both clubs have played excellent cricket in the lucrative Twenty20 competition over the past fifteen years, but Mumbai has won the title five times while Challengers have not yet raised the prized cup.
Twenty23 saw the end of MI's voyage when they were crushed by Gujarat Titans (GT) by 62 runs, while the end of RCB's campaign came when they lost to GT in the round-robin round at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium by six wickets. Before the 2024 Indian Premier League auction, both teams have made available a few players that might fetch enormous sums on December 19.
Eleven players from Challengers' roster were released this year, and several well-known stars might entice MI in the next auction. Mumbai may target some of the released RCB mainstays in the major tournament, given their reputation and performance.
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In his first IPL season, Michael Bracewell joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Due to his lack of confidence with the bat and ball as an all-rounder, he was left out of Bangalore's 2024 team. Only 58 runs and six wickets were amassed by the 32-year-old in five 2023 edition matches.
MI may select the all-rounder from New Zealand in the next auction since he has the potential to develop into the ideal player to back up the seasoned Piyush Chawla and the team's spin bowling unit. He can make game-winning strokes with the bat in addition to the ball. Bracewell has an outstanding T20 International (T20I) bowling record. He has claimed 21 wickets at an incredible economy rate of 5.36 in 16 games.
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Wanindu Hasaranga was let go by RCB for the 2024 season to bid a high price in the next IPL auction. The Sri Lankan spinner proved his bowling prowess in the 2022 IPL, taking 26 wickets at an economy of 7.54 in 16 matches. He concluded the edition as the second-highest wicket-taker with these figures as well.
He didn't do well with the ball in 2023 and didn't make the RCB retention list for the 2024 IPL. But at the next auction, his name will be among the favourites to take home a huge payout. Given that their lone experienced spinner on the squad is Piyush Chawla, MI may also increase the price to get him at the next auction.
The previous season, Chawla was outstanding for MI, taking 22 wickets at an economy rate of 8.11 in 16 games. Considering the veteran's performance, MI may consider adding Hasaranga to bolster their spin assault.
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In addition to Hasaranga, the Royals also let go of Josh Hazlewood, the captain of their fast-bowling team for the last two seasons. Given how well the Australian speedster played with the ball for his country during the 2023 World Cup, there is a good probability he will score big at the next auction.
He only made three appearances for Challengers in the 2023 Indian Premier League and claimed three wickets at an economy rate of 8.44 earlier in the year. MI will be ecstatic with their top bowler Jasprit Bumrah's return to the team, and they may also spend a lot of money on Hazlewood in the auction since he is renowned for his methodical pace bowling.
With Bumrah and Hazlewood as their fast bowling tandem, Mumbai might repeat the spectacular 2020 IPL season, when Bumrah and Trent Boult led MI to their fifth championship victory. Throughout his IPL career, the 32-year-old Australia has claimed 35 wickets at an economy of 8.06 in 27 games.
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