IPL 2022: They Didn’t Ask Me To Stay On, I Would’ve Said Yes - Yuzvendra Chahal On Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) surprised every one of their fans when they decided not to retain leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who had been with them for eight years ahead of the IPL 2022 auction. Instead, they kept hold of Virat Kohli, Mohammed Siraj, and Glenn Maxwell.

Now Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed that he was told by the RCB management that they would go for him in the IPL 2022 auction instead. However, he also said that he would have stayed on if the franchise had asked him to.

However, this was not to happen, as Rajasthan Royals beat RCB and other franchises for Chahal’s services with a winning bid of INR 6.50 crores. It is kind of a homecoming for Chahal, as he was part of the RR franchise in IPL 2010, but failed to get any game and then moved to the Mumbai Indians franchise afterward.

I Am Emotionally Attached To RCB. I Never Thought I Would Play For Some Other Team: Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal had joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2014 and till IPL 2021, played 113 matches, picking up 139 wickets with a best of 4/25 at an economy of 7.58. In an interview with TimesofIndia.com Chahal talks about how he was never asked by the RCB franchise if he would want to be retained and that there was never any conversation about money.

Chahal revealed: “I have a close bond with RCB, especially with the fans. I got to play a lot of matches with the team. I am emotionally attached to RCB. I never thought I would play for some other team. People and fans on social media are still asking me ‘why did you ask for this much money?’.

“The reality is that Mike Hesson (RCB Director of Cricket) called me and said ‘Listen Yuzi, there are three retentions’ (Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj).”

“They didn’t ask me whether I wanted to be retained or tell me if they wanted to retain me. They just talked about the three retentions and I was told that – ‘we will go for you in the auction’.

“Neither was I asked about money nor did I get any offer of retention. But I will always be loyal to my Bangalore fans. I love them so much, no matter what,” he added.

If They Had Asked Me Whether I Wanted To Be Retained, I Would Have Said Yes: Yuzvendra Chahal

Furthermore, Chahal said that the franchise never talked to him about retaining him and that money matters were not discussed at all. He said that if the RCB management had asked him if he wanted to be retained, he would have said yes.

He said: “The thing is they never asked me. They just called me and told me about the three retentions. If they had asked me whether I wanted to be retained, I would have said yes. Because money is secondary to me.

“RCB have given me so much, they gave me the platform, they gave me so much love and support, the fans gave me a lot of affection. Yes, I am attached to RCB emotionally. That’s the most important thing for me.”

Chahal will now be seen partnering Ravichandran Ashwin for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2022.

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