IPL 2023: Wayne Parnell, Vyshak Vijay Kumar to join Royal Challengers Bangalore for remainder of season

Following Reece Topley's exclusion from the ongoing Indian Premier League on account of injury, Royal Challengers Bangalore have signed South Africa's Wayne Parnell for the remainder of the tournament. Parnell was being considered as one of the front-runners in the race to take up Topley's place, which has now been sealed by the RCB management. 

Earlier, during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, Sanjay Bangar had broken the news that Topley had been ruled out despite the management trying their best to retain him. 

Parnell is a T20 veteran, having made his international debut in 2009. Parnell has so far played 56 T20 matches in which he has claimed 59 wickets at a strike rate of 18.5 and an economy of 8.29.

On a similar note, Madhya Pradesh's young batting sensation Rajat Patidar who had a phenomenal run last year, too sustained a heal injury before the start of the tournament and had thus to be ruled out from the entire season. While the management had then refrained from signing a replacement for Patidar, they have now roped in Karnataka's Vyshak Vinay Kumar to fill in his place. Vinay Kumar, who has scalped 22 wickets in 14 T20s, have been signed by RCB for an amount of INR 20 lakhs.

This is RCB's third replacement deal of the season after only two matches. Earlier, English batter Will Jacks had to meet a similar fate as he too was ruled out from what would have been his debut IPL tournament and New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell was signed in as his replacement. 

Parnell had earlier been part of Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors India's IPL squads, amassing experience of playing in the cash-rich league right from the third season in 2010, incessantly till 2014.

RCB to lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants in next home fixture

After suffering a humiliating defeat in their first away game against Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore will return to their home setup on April 10, when they take on the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants. 

RCB and LSG share analogous records as both teams have played two matches each and have won and lost one apiece. 

Notably, RCB's another international prospect Wanindu Hasaranga is scheduled to arrive on April 10 itself following which, a call would be taken regarding his inclusion in the squad against LSG.