IPL 2020: RCB bring in Prateek Jain and Shubhang Hegde as net bowlers

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have decided to add five net bowlers to their contingent going into the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It includes Karnataka’s Shubhang Hegde and Prateek Jain, who both were more than decent in the domestic season last year. At the present point in time, the Challengers have 11 net bowlers and 3 throwdown specialists.

The first batch of the bowlers joined the RCB in August, but scarcity of bowlers forced the team management to bring in more firepower. On Thursday, September 3, five net bowlers and one throwdown specialist left the Indian shores for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). As per Sportscafe, they will be joining Pravin Dubey, who was picked in the first set of bowlers.

Last year, Prateek got to play for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy. The 25-year-old got his chance after Sreenath Aravind retired and Vinay Kumar moved to Pondicherry. He didn’t flatter to deceive as he ended up 16 wickets from five matches, including a five-wicket haul against Railways. Shubhang, on the other hand, has an experience of playing one first-class and four List A matches.

RCB have their task cut out

The Challengers, led by Virat Kohli, are yet to get their hands on the coveted IPL trophy. The franchise has taken part in the T20 league since 2008, but hasn’t lived up to the expectations. They have played the final on three instances, but couldn’t go on to win the title even once. Kohli has been leading the team since 2013 and has constantly been under the pump.

Though he is the all-time leading run-scorer in the IPL, his teammates haven’t been able to lend him enough support. Back in 2016 when RCB lost their final to the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kohli had notched almost 1,000 runs in a single season with four tons.

In the last two seasons, RCB finished at the bottom-half of the points table and will be looking to make amends. Kohli and Co are currently busy practising after serving their quarantine period. The 2020 edition of the IPL is scheduled to get underway on September 19 with the BCCI yet to release its complete fixtures.