The Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have added Sri Lankan duo of pacer Dushmantha Chameera and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, along with Australia’s Tim David to their squad for the upcoming remainder of the IPL 2021.
The three replacements were announced as part of the team’s re-shuffle following some overseas players’ unavailability for the second-leg of the season.
Earlier during the first leg, Kane Richardson and Adam Zampa had flown back to Australia due to personal reasons. On the other hand, Daniel Sams and New Zealand’s pair of Fin Allen and Scott Kuggeleijn will be on national duties.
“We have made some changes to the squad pertaining to the situation,” RCB’s Mike Hesson said mediapersons.
“We have come a long way and have shown steady progress as a team. The addition of Wanindu Hasaranga, Tim David and Dushmantha Chameera couldn’t have come at a better time during the replacement window, as we aim to continue with the momentum, building on our performance from earlier this year,” he added.
Meanwhile, in another important announcement, RCB also announced that Simon Katich, who served as head coach, has resigned following which Hesson will perform the duties of head coach for this season.
“Simon Katich, the head coach of RCB, has decided to step down as on date, mainly due to personal reasons, and we, as management, support his decision and completely back him on this. As per the [franchise’s] business continuity plan, Mike Hesson will step in and discharge the duties of head coach until end of this tournament,” Rajesh Menon, vice-president and head of the RCB, said.
While Chameera replaces Daniel Sams, Hasaranga comes in for Zampa in the squad and David replaces Allen for the UAE leg.
“One things we can say is we have replaced Adam Zampa with Wanindu Hasaranga. Certainly delighted to have Hasaranga on board. He gives us some balance, obviously from a wrist spin point of view and also plenty of batting capability,” Hesson said.
“Chameera, another [from] the Sri Lankan contingent, he is bowling extremely well at the moment. I know him well, having coached against him. He’s got genuine pace and also his white-ball game has developed significantly over the last few years,” he added.
Commenting on their departure for the Gulf, Menon said: “The Indian players, minus the players in England, support staff and the team management, will be assembling in Bangalore today. Following which, we will undergo a seven-day quarantine in Bangalore, and we will have three Covid tests during this seven-day quarantine.”
“The team will depart via chartered flight on August 29, in the afternoon. Once we land in the UAE, again we will have a six-day hard quarantine, and the testing protocol as per BCCI. As for the overseas players and support staff, they will be coming in on August 29 and they will also undergo six days of quarantine there. Once we are all clear, we will be on the field and we will have a clear practice schedule which Mike and the [coaching] team will draw up,” he added.
Notably, RCB resume the IPL 2021 on September 20 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi.