IPL 2021: 5 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Players Who Might Miss The UAE Leg Of The Tournament

The remaining 31 games of the 14th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) will take place in the United Arab Emirates from the third week of September.

However, due to international commitments of various teams during the same time and the fact that the T20 World Cup will soon follow the 14th season of the cash-rich league, IPL franchises may have to deal with the paucity of a plethora of overseas cricketers.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are no different as they run the risk of losing the services of several Australian and New Zealand cricketers.

On that note, here’s a look at 5 Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) players who might miss the UAE Leg of IPL 2021:

Finn Allen

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman, Finn Allen, was signed by RCB as Joshua Phillipe’s replacement during the first leg of the IPL.

Allen, who has won a lot of fans due to the whirlwind batting approach in the Super Smash and recently in his debut series against Bangladesh,  did not get a game during the India-leg.

And, it seems like he may not turn up for RCB in the UAE leg as well.

The reason being that the New Zealand Cricket Team is scheduled to face Pakistan in bilateral rubber at that time and with the series succeeding the ICC T20 World Cup, NZC might not allow the Kiwi cricketers to skip the assignment for the IPL.

Kyle Jamieson

Kyle Jamieson performed admirably in his debut IPL season for the Virat Kohli-led RCB.

In 7 games, Jamieson claimed nine wickets at an average of 24.55.

But, as mentioned in the previous point, Jamieson, a crucial member of the New Zealand Cricket Team across formats, may not return for the UAE-leg of the IPL due to international commitments.

Glenn Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell was in the midst of a brilliant IPL campaign in his debut season for the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore when the tournament got stalled due to Covid.

The champion T20 cricketer was finally looking like breaking his extended barren run in the cash-rich league and had already played crucial match-defining innings for the franchise.

“Once we get back together as a group IPL is something we’ll obviously need to discuss. Our players returning from the IPL have only today come out of quarantine, so our first priority is to make sure they are reunited with their families. We then have a tour to prepare for in the West Indies,” NIck Hockley told ESPN Cricinfo.

With a hectic international season ahead and the fact that Australian players would have endured a month of bubble life across two different countries- the Caribbean and Bangladesh- by the time the UAE leg of the IPL starts, it remains to be seen whether CA will allow its cricketers to participate in the competition given the fact that the T20 World Cup will soon follow the cash-rich league.

In seven games, the swashbuckler had racked up 227 runs at an average of 37.16 and a blistering strike rate of 144.80 with a couple of 50+ scores. And, so, it will be a massive body blow for the Royal Challengers Bangalore if Glenn Maxwell doesn’t feature in the UAE leg of the IPL.

Kane Richardson

Kane Richardson, along with leg-spinner Adam Zampa, were the first set of overseas cricketers who pulled out of the 14th season of the IPL due to the Covid situation in the country.

Richardson featured in just one game in the 14th season where he claimed 1/29 in three overs.

It is unlikely that the seam-bowler will return for the UAE leg given the fact that he is set to play a vital role in Australia’s T20 World Cup campaign. The right-hander will likely not take part in the competition in a bid to keep himself fresh for the quadrennial event.

Adam Zampa

As stated in the previous point, Adam Zampa was one of the first overseas cricketers to pull out of the IPL due to the rapidly denigrating Covid situation in India back in April.

Zampa has largely been consigned to the bench due to the presence of the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed in the spin department, and with him unlikely to get much game time even if he returns for the UAE leg, the right-arm leggie may once again opt against taking part in the competition.

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