Indian T20 League: 3 players Bangalore might release ahead of 2023 edition

Bangalore started the Indian T20 League 2022 with a new skipper Faf Du Plessis as former skipper Virat Kohli stepped down from the role after Indian T20 League 2021. The 15th season was almost up to the expectations for Bangalore but their journey ended in the second qualifier of the tournament after losing to Rajasthan by seven wickets.

During the mega auction of ITL 2022, the franchise bought a few players who went through poor outings in the season and didn't appear in many matches too. Ahead of the 16th edition of the tournament which is to be played next year in 2023, the management might be thinking of releasing some of the players and tightening the loopholes in the squad in the auction. Here, we'll have a look at those three players which RCB might release ahead of the next season.

Here’s a look at the three players RCB might release ahead of IPL 2023:

1. Siddarth Kaul

Kaul was released by SRH before the commencement of the ITL 2022 mega auction earlier this year he could pick only seven wickets in eight matches last season. This year, the 32-year-old pacer was bought by Bangalore for his base price of INR 75 lakh. Unfortunately, he couldn't fit into the combination of RCB and got a chance to appear only in one match.

In that match, Kaul went too expensive in bowling, he conceded 43 runs in his quota of four overs and couldn't scalp a single wicket. Bangalore management couldn't make Kaul regular in their bowling line-up for the Indian T20 League  2022 as they were already confident in the combination which included the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshal Patel in their bowling attack.

The 2008 U-19 world champion pacer might get good opportunities if any other team opts for him in the mini-auction of ITL 2023 and he gets fit in their pace attack. So, Bangalore may release him ahead of the ITL 2023.

2. David Willey

David Willey does not have a much-celebrated ITL career to his name so far. Bangalore bought him in the mega auction of ITL 2022 for his base price of INR 2 crores. He got some opportunities to appear in a few starting matches of the season for Bangalore when senior Aussie all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was not available with the franchise. Willey came to bat at number four in the batting line-up. In two innings of four matches he played, the southpaw could score only 18 runs with the bat.

Apart from that, he could scalp only one wicket to his name in four matches. As Maxwell joined the team again, Willey was benched by the team management for upcoming matches.

Having only four overseas cricketers in the playing XI in the ITL, it would not be easy for Bangalore to manage him in their current line-up which may end up as Willey's release from the team ahead of the next season in 2023.

3. Karn Sharma

Karn Sharma was picked by the Bangalore-based franchise in ITL 2022's mega auction at his base price of INR 50 lakh. But, he couldn't get a single opportunity to appear in the playing XI of the team throughout the whole season. During ITL 2022, RCB extended their belief in the young Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga during their complete journey of the 15th edition of the tournament. Which made it quite hard for management to keep Sharma in the bowling line-up of the team.

So, the management might think of releasing him to free up some amount in their purse to get any other player. Karn can also get a better chance if any of the teams picks him up as a leg spinner in the mini-auction for the next season

Sharma played his last IPL match in 2020 for MS Dhoni-led Chennai against Kolkata at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Since then he has been warming the benches.