IPL: Best XI of RCB's released players who performed well for other franchises

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are one of the most talked about franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its inception. After 15 editions of the league, RCB are yet to win an IPL trophy. However, going through their teams in the tournament's history, it could be said that the franchise should’ve won the title much earlier. Noting RCB’s consistency in not winning any IPL trophies, fans have given them the ‘chokers’ tag. Adding to the same, RCB are known for its infamous knack for releasing players. In recent years, it has been witnessed that the players leaving the Bangalore-based outfit have played some stunning cricket for other franchises. Here is the best XI of RCB’s released players who went on to do well for other franchises 1. KL Rahul KL Rahul. (Photo Source: Twitter) In 2016, KL Rahul became a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise once again after the 2013 season. The talented wicket-keeper batter accumulated 397 runs, including four half-centuries in 14 games, at a phenomenal strike rate of 146.49.In 2017, the wicket-keeper batter pulled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. In the 2018 edition, Rahul didn’t feature in RCB’s retention list and went under the hammer at the mega auction. Witnessing his batting mettle, Punjab Kings (PBKS) roped in Rahul for a whopping INR 11 crore. Rahul played a vital role for PBKS as he amassed 659 runs with six fifties in 14 matches at a strike rate of 158.41. In 2020, he also won the Orange Cap for the franchise scoring 670 runs with a ton and five half-centuries in 14 games, at a strike rate of 129.34. 2. Chris Gayle Chris Gayle. (Photo Source: Twitter) In 2011, Chris Gayle went unsold in the 2011 mega auction but got a chance to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore, replacing injured Dirk Nannes. The Jamaican batter debuted for Royal Challengers Bangalore in style as he stunned his previous franchise Kolkata Knight Riders with his outstanding knock of 102 runs from 55 deliveries.At the end of the season, the southpaw won the Orange Cap with 608 runs in 12 games at a formidable strike rate of 183.13. In 2012, he retained the prestigious Orange Cap becoming the leading run-scorer with 733 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 160.74. After providing his valuable services to RCB for seven long seasons, he couldn’t make it to the retention list of the franchise for the 2018 installment of the tournament due to his dismal performance in the 2017 season.In 2018, he joined Punjab Kings (PBKS) along with KL Rahul and rocked the league again with his bat. Notching 368 runs with a century and three half-centuries in 11 matches, he showcased his immense experience. However, his best for the franchise came in the next season as he hit 490 runs in 13 games at a brilliant strike rate of 153.60. 3. Moeen Ali Moeen Ali. (Photo Source: Twitter) At the 2018 mega auction, the England all-rounder Moeen Ali received his maiden IPL contract. The talented veteran was picked up and by RCB at INR 1.7 crore. In the debut edition of the coveted league, RCB included him in their playing XI for five matches.Albeit, his first season didn’t go well as he could score only 77 runs and picked just three wickets.In 2019, he showcased his batting skills smashing 220 runs with two half-centuries in 11 games at a strike rate of 165.41. The left-handed batter played his third season in 2020 but was ineffective amassing only 12 runs and a wicket in three games.At the mini-auction in February 2021, Chennai Super Kings purchased Moeen for INR 7 crore as RCB released him due to his shambolic display in the 2020 edition. Featuring for the MS Dhoni-led side in 2021, Ali was assigned the role of a top-order batter and notched 357 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 137.30. Last year, CSK delivered their worst performance in the history of the league, but Ali showed his brilliance with the bat accumulating 244 runs and eight wickets in 10 contests. 4. Shivam Dube Shivam Dube. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI) The lanky southpaw, Shivam Dube made his IPL debut in the 2019 edition but failed to make a mark with the bat. Thereafter, he got a chance to play for the Indian T20I side but could not do much to draw attention towards him. Now, ahead of the 2021 auction, the RCB decided to release him but another IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals availed his services for a whopping price of INR 4.4 crores. In his most notable innings, he played a match-winning knock of 64* off 42 balls against none other than the Chennai Super Kings to help Rajasthan clinch a mammoth victory in the run chase in Abu Dhabi. Consequently, the MS Dhoni-led side picked him at the mega auction held in 2022. Since then, he has played some glorious knocks for CSK which includes his best score of 95* against his former team, RCB. Fast forward to the IPL 2023 edition, on April 17, Dube took centerstage after Conway's fireworks against the Royal Challengers Bangalore yet again. Shivam Dube took just 25 balls to complete an explosive fifty for the Chennai Super Kings to become the fourth fastest batter to smash a half-century in the history of the league. 5. Jacques Kallis Jacques Kallis. (Photo Source: Twitter) The former South Africa legend Jacques Kallis played seven seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008-14. During his career, he racked up 2,427 runs and 65 scalps in 98 games. From 2008-10, he was also an integral part of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Notching 1,271 runs in 46 matches at a strike rate of 113.17, he is still the fourth-highest run-scorer for the franchise.In 2009, Kallis’s key contribution helped RCB qualify for the competition's final. With 361 runs and six scalps in fifteen games, he helped his team to do better than the favourites Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI).In 2010, the Proteas star looked better than the previous season as he hit 572 runs with six half-centuries in sixteen games at a strike rate of 115.78. In 2011, he bagged a contract from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the 2011 mega auction after parting ways with RCB. The distinguished South Africa player played a major role in KKR’s maiden title win in 2012, scoring 409 runs and picking up 15 wickets in 17 matches. 6. Shane Watson Shane Watson. (Photo Source: BCCI) Shane Watson established his name in the inaugural season of the IPL with his spectacular contribution to Rajasthan Royals’ title triumph in 2008. In 2015, Rajasthan Royals was suspended for the 2016-17 editions and Watson took part in the 2016 mini-auction. Believing in his glorifying past record in the tournament, RCB snapped him up for a hefty sum of INR 9.5 crore. For his new franchise, the talented former Aussie all-rounder looked fine as a middle-order batter accumulating 179 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 133.58. With the ball, he also bagged 20 wickets but at an exorbitant economy of 8.98. In 2017, he had his worst IPL season as he struggled to be among runs and wickets. Observing his disappointing figures in the tenth edition of the league, RCB refused to retain the Aussie all-rounder for the next season. At the 2018 mega auction, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent INR 4 crore on the veteran to acquire his services in the competition. Under MS Dhoni’s leadership, Watson looked rejuvenated as he showed his knack for pounding bowlers as an impactful opening batter. In CSK’s marvelous title win, Watson hoarded 555 runs with two centuries and half-centuries in 15 games at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 154.59. 7. Marcus Stoinis In 2019 Marcus Stoinis got traded to RCB from Punjab kings for Mandeep Singh. The franchise trusted his game skills after his excellent batting performance in the 2017-18 Big Bash League. In the competition, he played 10 games under the leadership of Virat Kohli and showcased his class as a match-finisher in a few matches. The Aussie player ended the tournament with 211 runs at a strike rate of 135.25. However, with the ball, he couldn’t create an impact picking only two wickets at an underwhelming economy of 8.70. In November 2019, Stoinis was featured on the list of RCB players who got released through the trading window.In 2020, Delhi Capitals (DC) management assigned him to reinforce the team with his all-round skills.Fulfilling the expectations of his owners, Stonis racked up 352 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 148.52. The 33-year-old also took 13 wickets at an economy of 9.53. 8. Karn Sharma Karn Sharma RCB. (Photo Source: Karn Sharma) In 2009, Royal Challengers Bangalore got Railways wrist-spinner Karn Sharma at INR 12 lakh. However, the franchise couldn’t give him a chance in the playing XI as veteran Anil Kumble looked in amazing form. In 2013, the leggie debuted for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the league and claimed 11 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 6.60. In 2014, he delivered his best performance in the company with 15 scalps in 14 contests at an economy of 7.42.Considering his wonderful bowling performances in the league, the selectors picked him to represent India in all three formats in 2014.In the 2017 IPL, Mumbai Indians (MI) fetched him for INR 3.2 crore at the mini-auction. In return, he took 13 wickets in nine matches and contributed to the franchise’s third trophy win. 9. Jaydev Unadkat Jaydev Unadkat. (Photo Source: Twitter) In 2013, Jaydev Unadkat was a key member of RCB due to his left-arm medium-pace bowling. Along with Zaheer Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, and Murali Karthik, the pacer got opportunities to shine with the ball. Of 14 games in the season, the pacer appeared in 13 and fetched 13 scalps at an economy of 7.55. Against Delhi Capitals (DC), he gave his best performance to the franchise notching 4-0-25-5 figures. For the next season, the franchise didn’t retain him despite his fine display in 2013. In 2014, Delhi Capitals (DC) picked him at the mega auction and gave him a chance to play for them in nine matches.In all his appearances, he grabbed nine wickets at an economy of 8.66. The left-arm pacer joined Rising Pune Super Giant (RPSG) in 2017 and amassed 24 wickets in 12 contests at a decent economy of 7.02. Considering his fabulous show for the Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals signed him for the 2018 season for INR 11.5 crore 10. Umesh Yadav Umesh Yadav of Royal Challengers Bangalore in action. (Photo by IANS) Noticing Umesh Yadav’s wicket-taking ability, Royal Challengers Bangalore invested INR 4.2 crores at the 2018 mega auction. Along with huge names such as Tim Southee, Chris Woakes, and Yuzvendra Chahal, Yadav’s job was to bolster the team’s bowling unit. In the competition, he emerged as a wicket-taking bowler for the franchise taking 20 wickets in 14 matches of the 2018 season, at an economy of 7.86. However, the veteran failed to carry his form in the next season as he looked horrendous with the ball picking only eight wickets in 11 matches at an expensive economy of 9.80.In 2020 as well, the speedster failed to show up as he couldn’t get any wickets in a couple of games he got. In February 2021, RCB cut ties with him after getting his services in three seasons. In 2021, Delhi Capitals bought the strongman for INR 1 crore at the mini-auction but couldn’t give him a chance to play in the competition. In the 2022 edition of the league, he featured for KKR and bagged 12 wickets in 16 matches, giving runs at a frugal economy of 7.06. 11. Yuzvendra Chahal Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: BCCI) In the 2014 mega auction, RCB roped in Yuzvendra Chahal to provide strength to their bowling line-up. Playing his maiden season for the franchise, he showcased his bowling talent clinching 12 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.01. In the next season, his best performance came for RCB as he hunted 23 batters in 15 games at an economy of 8.86.In November 2021, RCB shocked their fans as they excluded Chahal from their squad for the 2022 season. Despite fetching 18 wickets in 15 matches of IPL 2021 at a fine economy of 7.05, he couldn’t get retained. Currently, he holds the record of the highest wicket-taker for RCB with 139 wickets in 113 contests at an economy of 7.58At the mega-auction 2022, Rajasthan Royals signed him for INR 6.5 crore. Appearing in a RR jersey for the first time, Chahal handled the spin attack efficiently and won the Purple Cap with 27 wickets in 17 games at an economy of 7.75. Also check: IPL: 7 Major records RCB team holds without winning the trophy For a better experience: Download the CricTracker app from the IOS App Store and Google Play Store

Topics

Featured Section

Current Series

IPL 2025 Auction

IPL Teams

Cricket Fantasy Tips

Cricket Stats

ICC Rankings

Interviews

Twitter Reactions

Cricket Appeal

Social Tracker

More Links

# Follow Us

Other Sports

IPL: Best XI of RCB's released players who performed well for other franchises

After leaving the Bangalore-based outlet, these players set the tournament on fire with their stunning displays.

8. Karn Sharma

Latest Articles

SA vs SL 2024: Wiaan Mulder ruled out with fractured finger

SA-W vs ENG-W, 3rd T20I: Match Prediction

GSL 2024: Match 3, GAW vs VIC Match Prediction