Ahead of his facet’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 opener towards Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head coach Sanjay Bangar mentioned that Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga will probably be obtainable for the facet solely after April 9 as a consequence of his worldwide cricket commitments. RCB will tackle MI of their IPL 2023 marketing campaign opener on Sunday on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. “Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable for us till the ninth of this month,” mentioned Bangar within the pre-match press convention. Hasaranga was the main wicket-taker for RCB final season and was the second-highest wicket-taker total with 26 scalps in 16 matches at a median of 16.53 and an economic system price of seven.54. His greatest bowling figures within the final season have been 5/18.

England pacer Reece Topley will probably be a like-for-like substitute for Australian fast Josh Hazlewood, who will probably be lacking out on the primary half of the league as a consequence of an achilles harm, mentioned the coach.

“We sort of anticipated it (Hazlewood missing IPL games) and it was factored in the auction and pre-auction meetings. Reece Topley provides a like-to-like replacement for him. I am sure that his left-arm bowling will add to the strength of our bowling,” mentioned Bangar.

On the standing of Rajat Patidar, who can be anticipated to overlook the primary half of IPL as a consequence of a heel harm, Bangar mentioned that the batter is present process therapy on the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and the franchise is awaiting clarification from him.

The coach additionally added that star Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who just lately made his return to cricket within the ODI collection towards Australia after a leg harm sustained final 12 months, has been cleared to play by Cricket Australia (CA) and can play on Sunday.

Bangar revealed that the franchise needed to signal New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell throughout the public sale final 12 months, however needed to signal Will Jacks, an England all-rounder because of the public sale sequence. The all-rounder is now within the staff as a substitute for an injured Jacks.”

“Bracewell is a flexible participant. He can bat on the prime and decrease down the order. We will probably be trying to make one of the best use of him,” added Bangar.

On playing at the home ground of M Chinnaswammy Stadium after a gap of over three years, Bangar said, “Boys are excited. The build-up was very good. We had this RCB Unbox occasion and likewise the Hall of Fame occasion that the staff administration did. The response to those occasions was good and it gave goosebumps to the brand new boys who haven’t skilled the environment on the Chinnaswammy Stadium. Hope followers will proceed offering the power like they do all the time.”

Last year, RCB qualified for playoffs and lost to Rajasthan Royals in qualifier 2 by seven wickets.

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Squad strength: 25 players (overseas 8)

Players bought during IPL 2023 auction – Reece Topley (Rs 1.9 crore), Himanshu Sharma (Rs 20 lakh), Will Jacks (Rs 3.2 crore), Manoj Bhandage (Rs 20 lakh), Rajan Kumar (Rs 70 lakh), Avinash Singh (Rs 60 lakh).

Players retained – Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Suyash Prabhudessai, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed, Harshal Patel, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Mahipal Lomror, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul, Akash Deep.