As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega-auction inches closer, the excitement of the fans knows no bounds. With various top names available on the auction platter, it is not going to be an easy day out for the franchises.
Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is reported to go hard to acquire the services of the Caribbean all-rounder Jason Holder. The West Indian boasts of quality skills in all the departments and his valuable T20 skillset is likely to fetch him a lucrative contract in the upcoming auction.
"Ben Stokes isn't available, Hardik Pandya and Marcus Stoinis are taken. Mitchell Marsh you never know whether he can survive a full IPL with his injury-prone career, Holder has been phenomenal if one looks at his record. RCB will like to go the distance as some others will also pitch in," a source close to RCB said as quoted to PTI.
Holder's leadership skills add to his resume with RCB currently looking at a potent captaincy mind. But the franchise must be ready for an alternative as Holder will certainly not be an easy grab.
While Glenn Maxwell is in their ranks, RCB is still in a search of quality domestic middle-order batters. It has been understood that the team will bid handsomely for Ambati Rayudu and Riyan Parag.
"For Holder, they have reserved Rs 12 crore and another Rs 8 crore for Rayudu and Rs 7 crore for Parag. If they spend Rs 27 crore approximately on these players, they would have another Rs 28 crore left," the source added.
"The core with Kohli, Maxwell, Siraj, Holder, Rayudu and Parag will be set. Let's hope they can get two out of the preferred three," affirmed the source.
Rayudu has performed prolifically for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the side's success, since their comeback in 2018, has largely been credited to the 36-year-old batter.
Talking about Parag, his handful of innings indicated that he is set for the big stage. But the youngster lost the plot after his debut IPL season. However, a franchise like RCB can bring the best out of him.
RCB has retained Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj for IPL 2022 and currently have Rs. 57 crore left in their auction purse.