It's So Exciting And Pretty Surreal: Finn Allen On Being Recruited By The Royal Challengers Bangalore Ahead Of IPL 2021

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s latest recruit ahead of IPL 2021, Finn Allen, could not contain his joy after earning an opportunity to feature in the marquee T20 league. The Royal Challengers Bangalore decided to go for Finn Allen after Australia’s keeper-batsman Josh Philippe opted out of the 14th season. Allen, a like for like replacement, revealed that it’s a dream come true to have such an opportunity.

Finn Allen was surprisingly not even in the IPL auction as he topped the run-scoring charts in the 2020-21 edition of the Super Smash. The right-handed batsman mustered 512 runs in 11 matches at 56.88 alongside six half-centuries. In the process, Allen’s strike rate was a stunning 193.93. Having made his T20 debut in 2017, the explosive batsman has 537 runs in 13 T20s at 48.81 alongside a strike rate of 183.27.

Finn Allen revealed that when RCB’s director of operations Mike Hesson asked whether he was interested in being part of the franchise, the 21-year old did not think twice. Allen claimed that the feeling was exciting, surreal, and unbelievable. He also disclosed that it was tough to digest it initially and it’s kicking in now.

“He (Mike Hesson) asked if I was interested in coming, and I was like, you don’t even need to ask me that one – it’s my dream come true. It’s so exciting and pretty surreal. I couldn’t really believe it. It took a while to settle in, and now with all the media and everything, it’s kicking in how real it all is,” Allen told Stuff.co.NZ.

Finn Allen laments losing his lucky bat:

Nevertheless, Finn Allen’s moment of recognition had arrived at a slightly unusual time since he broke his ‘lucky’ bat during a T20 fixture. Furthermore, to his dismay, he got out the very next delivery. The Auckland-born cricketer revealed that some people gave him a bit of a stick as he walked out to bat and even after it broke.

“It was a beautiful bat, and it was a shame it had to go, but that’s what happens in T20, isn’t it. As soon as I was walking out to bat, they were giving me a bit of stick for it, and once it broke, they also gave me a bit of stick for it saying, ‘What’s he going to do now without his lucky bat,’ and then I got out first ball, so there you go,” he added.

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