Wanindu Hasaranga as good as Yuzvendra Chahal for RCB: Mike Hesson

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) shocked everyone when they did not retain Yuzvendra Chahal for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 edition. Instead, they gambled on Wanindu Hasaranga again, who was mediocre the last time he fielded for the franchise in the UAE edition the previous year.

The Sri Lankan bowler has managed to leave his stamp this season and even picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to keep his team afloat in the race for the playoffs.

RCB's Director of Cricket, Mike Hesson, has praised Hasaranga for his performance and compared him to Chahal, who was exceptional during his playing days for the Bangalore-based franchise.

Speaking on RCB's YouTube show Bold Diaries, Hesson said, "It was very hard to replace one of our all-time greats and someone like Yuzi. He is an icon at RCB. Hasaranga comes in as his replacement. As the tournament's gone, they work out he is a good cricketer as is Yuzi,"

Currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in this IPL with 23 scalps. Hasaranga is just behind him with 21 wickets with an even better average of 15.33.

Hesson further explained what role the leg-spinner has with the RCB bowling unit. "From the start, Hasaranga was always getting big players out. He was getting wickets in the middle that got us back in the game, even though he might have got one for 28, which does not cause highlights. He was actually doing a nice job for us." he concluded.

The Jaipur-based franchise are placed third in the standings with 14 points, closely followed by the Faf du Plessis-captained side, who are in the fourth spot due to a lesser run rate, with as many points.