IPL 2018: Three Players Royal Challengers Bangalore Regret Letting Go

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have become the butt of a joke across social media. And they have only themselves to blame for it.

The perennial underachievers have started the ongoing eleventh season of Indian Premier League (IPL) on a dismal note. They have won only two of their opening five games and are languishing at the bottom half of the IPL 2018 points table.

But, their performance has not made them the subject of trolling across the social media platforms in particular. It is the brilliant performances of their former players coinciding with their indifferent showing has what made life tough for the franchise this time around.

Before this year’s auctions, the Bangalore-based outfit made some tough calls. They released the likes of Chris Gayle, KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav, Shane Watson and others only to see these players excel for other teams in the ongoing lucrative league.

With the tournament now entering its business phase, here we are taking a look at three players the Royal Challengers Bangalore might regret letting go.

3. Shane Watson:

In almost all the games, he has made important contributions with both bat and ball.

With the bat, he has scored 184 runs in only five games at a strike-rate of over 161 in addition to scoring a century.

Moreover, with the ball, he has picked up six wickets at an average of less than 20.

2. KL Rahul:

Royal Challengers’ decision to not retain KL Rahul was probably the biggest shock.

A local lad, Rahul is aware of the M. Chinnaswamy track. Moreover, he is one of the best batsmen in the nation.

However, the Bangalore-based outfit decided to part ways with him for reasons known only to him. And Rahul is making the franchise pay for their shocking decision.

In the very first game of the season, he scored the fastest fifty in the history of the league.

Rahul reached the milestone after facing just 14 balls. So far, he has amassed 236 runs in just six games at a stunning strike-rate of over 180, including two half-centuries.

1. Chris Gayle:

Despite being one of their batting mainstays in the last season, Gayle also could not secure a place in the Bangalore squad.

But the Universe Boss did not take long to make the franchise regret their decision. He has played only three games so far and has already left a huge impression.

In three games, he has scored two fifties and one century – to take his runs tally to 229 runs.

Royal Challengers Bangalore management must be scratching their heads over the releasing of a brute force like Gayle in particular.

Also, read: India’s Five Forgotten Indian Premier League Heroes