Ranking 10 worst player releases by RCB in IPL history

Over the years, captain Virat Kohli’s red army has been one of the well-admired teams of the IPL. In its 14 years of establishment, the franchise has been helmed by many prominent names who have also enjoyed a fair share of success and failures. In fact, in its initial years, RCB used to be one of IPL’s heavyweight franchises, but their ultimate goal of winning an IPL title has still remained as a chimaera.

However, in their overall pursuit, the red army has also indulged itself in some unpleasant trading of players that comprehensively has dampened their past performances. In fact, even the constant turnover of think tanks and management has largely abstained the red army from gaining some sizable traction. Hence in this list, let’s rank and revisit-

RCB’s worst player releases in the history of IPL

10. Steve Smith

As a 20-year old young player, Steve Smith had first joined the RCB franchise in the 2010 IPL. Since the Australian batter was also a well-known leg-spinner in his formative days, the team management had easily bagged him for INR 13.9 Lakhs. However, as the red army already had some established prominent overseas names in that season, Smith was mainly a bench warmer and a backup for its Australian peers. 

In fact, while during his transit from the red-army to the Kochi franchise in 2011 IPL, Smith had to continue his wait that eventually then landed him in the PWI franchise. Hence by making his IPL debut with the Pune team in 2012, Smith had fortuitously unveiled himself as he overall scored a total of 362 runs at an average of 40.22. Even his strike rate of 135.58 in that season has been the second-best amongst all of his IPL stints.

Hence, despite trying him out, RCB had not only easily discarded him but also neither attempted to buy him cheaply in the 2011 mega auction. Subsequently, as even the PWI franchise had later got ceased, Smith’s best IPL days have been well witnessed with the RR franchise.

9. Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali had joined his hands with the RCB team in 2018 and was part of the franchise till the 2020 season. Over his three-year stint, the cricketer had barely played a total of 19 games wherein in the 2019 season he had reasonably averaged around 27 with the bat from his 11 appearances. Unfortunately, since the team used to constantly grapple with his overseas picks, the all-rounder was largely underutilized and was viewed as a reserved overseas all-rounder. In fact, the likes of Colin De Grandhomme were ahead of Moeen when it came to playing in the first two seasons.

However, with the CSK franchise now using the all-rounder as a mere floater, Moeen has already amassed a total of 206 runs from his 6 games that also includes a healthy average of 34.33 and strike rate of 157.25. In a true sense, he is mainly used as a catalyst which in many ways has also increased CSK’s overall explosiveness in their middle-order batting. Also, since Moeen can bat anywhere in the top seven, his left-hand proposition thus gives an option of opening the innings with a left-right combination.

Perhaps with also being known as a wicket-taking spinner, the all-rounder has scalped 5 wickets with an exceptional economy of under 7 that too without completing his full quota of overs. Overall while in totality, the yellow army has impressively utilized Moeen Ali in many possible ways, unfortunately, RCB had never tried to explore him enough for new endeavours.

8. Marcus Stoinis

With an aim to fill their void in the lower batting order, RCB had fetched Marcus Stoinis for INR 6.2 Crores in IPL 2019. His secondary skill of medium pace bowling had also immediately brought him to the fore as in the entire season, Stoinis had played a total of 10 games. Overall, while the Aussie had barely scalped anything, a total of 211 runs at an average of 52.75 were strongly produced from his blade. In fact, his overall strike rate of around 135 also seemed to be exceptional especially considering RCB’s fragile lower middle-order batting.

However, unfortunately, the team management had immediately discarded Stoinis in the next season wherein the DC management then merrily bought him for INR 4.8 Crores. And under Ricky Ponting’s regime, Stoinis was honed as a valiant match-winner wherein in a couple of games he singlehandedly had soared DC to staggering victories.

Overall, after his exit from the RCB, Stoinis played a total of 17 IPL games for DC in which a tally of 352 runs had come from his bat along with a strike rate that almost touched 150. More importantly by getting used as a proper all-rounder, the Aussie cricketer had also scalped some 13 wickets. Hence comprehensively, while the RCB franchise had used Stoinis one-dimensionally, the DC management had extensively explored all his potential.

7. Chris Morris

Over the years, Chris Morris has played for many IPL teams. He initially had started his IPL journey with the CSK franchise and later on did play for the Delhi Daredevils team till the year 2019. His exit from the Delhi franchise then eventually got him a hefty contract of INR 10 Crores from the RCB management wherein he was extensively used as a handy all-rounder.

Perhaps with his requirement also demanding him to be a reliable death-over specialist, Morris had scalped 11 wickets from 9 games at an impressive economy of under 7. More importantly, his overall bowling did comprehensively brought a resolve to RCB’s woeful death bowling but unfortunately, even he got discarded after the last season. Interestingly, the RCB management wanted to procure him at a much-discounted price but the excessive demand did then dwelled him at the RR franchise.

Overall, while Morris has emerged as a chief leader of the RR’s bowling attack, his wickets tally has astonishingly got escalated. From his mere 7 games, the South African had taken a total of 14 wickets which also has brought him in the purple cap contention. All in all, if the RCB team had failed to bag Kyle Jamieson then the franchise would have immensely missed Chris Morris in the ongoing edition.

6. Quinton De Kock

As of now, Quinton De Kock has been brimming with runs in blue and gold but such was not the case when he was in the RCB. During his brief stay at the RCB, QDK was bagged for INR 2.8 Crores and was given considerable opportunities to seal his place. Since the franchise also usually likes to open with an overseas batter, De Kock was instantly placed in the top-order where he eventually turned to be reasonable.

From his 8 appearances in the 2018 season, the SA wicket-keeper had quietly scored a total of 201 runs at an average of 25.12. Even his strike rate was grappling under 125 which normally isn’t the case while opening for other teams. Hence with a mere score of fifty-plus being scored from his adequate appearances, QDK was eventually handed over to MI where he’s now successfully had two back-to-back 500 plus runs seasons.

Unfortunately, even after De Kock’s departure, the red army had to face an ordeal with its option of other overseas openers which maybe could have been avoided if the management could have been more patient with him. Overall, QDK’s eventual exit from the RCB franchise has apparently brought his best IPL days in the MI’s blue and gold jersey.

5. Jacques Kallis

During the initial years of RCB, Jacques Kallis used to be one of the vital members of the side. He along with the likes of Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble had taken the franchise to two back-to-back playoffs after the season of 2008. In fact, in the 2010 season, the former SA legend was the team’s highest run-scorer wherein he had amassed a total of 572 runs at a terrific average of 47.66. Interestingly, it also became the all-rounder’s best IPL season to date.

However, unfortunately in the mega auction of the 2011 IPL, RCB had decided to let go of the SA legend that eventually then made him form a successful 4-year stint with KKR. Perhaps especially while after playing for KKR, Kallis had emerged out as a 400-run bank in his first two seasons along with establishing himself as a substantial all-rounder. Overall while during his entire stay at the KKR franchise, Kallis had immensely played an indispensable role especially in terms of lifting the two IPL glories.

Hence, while the RCB franchise had also brimmed their squads with some utter prominent stars (Gayle & ABD), maybe Kallis’s presence would have made their performances more fruitful especially in the 2011 finals against CSK.

4. Dale Steyn

Just like Jacques Kallis, even Dale Steyn was discarded by the RCB team when he was in its absolute prime. By bagging him at a price of INR 1.3 Crores in the inaugural season, Steyn had turned to be a reliable entity across all the first three seasons that he had played. In fact, despite missing the majority of the second season because of a thumb injury, the franchise had not released him for the 2010 season.

Perhaps by holding a fine record where the SA spearhead had scalped a total of 27 wickets from his 28 games that too at an economy of around 6.7, RCB did not bag him in the mega auction of 2011. In place of Steyn, RCB management had attractively bagged the services of Dirk Nannes who at that time had emerged as a commendable T20 bowler for Australia especially in the 2010 World T20.

However, when the Deccan Chargers team had bought Steyn in the 2011 auction, he ended up having a soaring run where in the next two seasons a profusion of 32 wickets was hounded in 24 games. More importantly, while the wickets tally might still seem to be considerable, it was the ceasing economy of a mere 6.35 that defined Steyn’s feisty bowling at that time.

3. Chris Gayle

The Universal Boss had first started his IPL journey with the KKR franchise after which his best glory days had definitely come under the RCB’s jersey. Since his arrival from the 2011 season, Gayle had become an insurmountable force whose profusion of runs had become havoc for many IPL teams. Perhaps by twice crossing the 700-plus run mark in the 2012 and 2013 season, certainly Gayle was in his utter prime till the 2015 IPL season.

However, while the infamous 2016 season of RCB was a savouring year for the red army fans, Chris Gayle’s personal batting form had drastically taken a big hit. Both in the 2016 and 2017 IPL, the Jamaican started to average in the early twenties that eventually then brought an unfortunate cease to his seven-year-long stint.

Overall, while Gayle’s termination initially had looked like the right decision, the Universal Boss had made a pragmatic comeback wherein the 2018 season he had averaged around 40 plus. In fact, to date, Gayle’s average of 40 plus has remained intact while playing for PBKS. Unfortunately, it’s also a bitter truth that ever since Gayle’s departure, the RCB franchise is yet in due to find a reliable overseas opener.

2. Shane Watson

There’s no doubt that Shane Watson’s best IPL years have definitely come under the CSK and RR franchise. Early on, while he was a force to reckon with during his stint with the RR team, his best vintage days were also exhibited when MS Dhoni had recreated CSK in 2018. However, in between Watson had also joined RCB where he had drastically malfunctioned with the bat.

Perhaps by casting him in the middle-order for two seasons, RCB had stirred away Watson’s usual opening position merely because of Chris Gayle’s brimming presence at the top. Unfortunately, the outlandish middle-order role had dreadfully then made Watson average around 12.7 that in many ways also then brought his exit after the 2017 season.

Overall, while later on Watson’s new stint with CSK had become a glorious affair, the RCB team on the other hand had to endure a struggle because of some woeful overseas picks.

1. KL Rahul

It was in the 2013 season when KL Rahul had made his IPL debut for RCB after which he then played for SRH for the next two seasons. Perhaps regardless of his reasonable performances, the local boy had again made a comeback in the 2016 season especially when the franchise had bought him for a minor amount. Now with the 2016 year also been the team’s superlative season, even Rahul had then amassed some crucial runs at an average of above 44.

However, an injury in the next entire season had ceased him from playing, the local boy was then highly expected to either get retained or get repurchased in the mega auction of 2018. Surprisingly, the franchise had relinquished itself from bagging that eventually then paved a fruitful way for Rahul to start a new successful stint with the Punjab franchise.

Overall while the RCB team had a clear upright chance to nourish and foster once a generational talent like KL Rahul, the PBKS team has currently exhibited the Bangalore boy as the head chief of their franchise.