RCB will run after Mitchell Starc if he is available: Aakash Chopra

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that the Royal Challengers Bangalore should go all-out for Mitchell Starc in the upcoming Indian Premier League auction provided the Australian paceman is available. Starc made his IPL debut for RCB itself back in 2014 and played two seasons for them. In the two seasons, he picked up 34 wickets from 27 matches with best figures of four for 15.

In 2019, he was picked to play for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but he missed out due to injury. As far as the Challengers are concerned, Chopra reckons that the franchise may not mind spending money up to 19 crores for Starc in the IPL auction.

Going into the auction, Chopra said that RCB need to spend their money with an open heart since they have 11 slots to fill. The veteran put forth his opinions on his official YouTube channel.

They can go to 15-19 crores for Mitchell Starc: Chopra

“RCB have 11 total slots vacant, out of which three are overseas slots. So, you feel that they have to shop whole-heartedly because they don’t have the overseas options in the playing XI ready. They have AB de Villiers, Joshua Phillipe, Zampa, Kane Richardson and Daniel Sams. But are four out of these five going to play, I doubt it,” Chopra said.

“RCB will run after Mitchell Starc if he is available. They have money, so they can run after him. They can go to 15-19 crores also if they wish to do so,” he stated.

Cameron Green is another player, Chopra feels, RCB should be targeting due to their fragile middle-order. The Challengers also let go, Aaron Finch, the Aussie ODI and T20I skipper, and Chopra mentioned that they could rope in England’s Jason Roy or Dawid Malan.

“I also see them running after Cameron Green because they do not have anyone in their middle order. They will also run after an opener. They have let Finch go, so Roy and Dawid Malan are the only ones left,” Chopra added.

In the 2020 IPL, Virat Kohli’s RCB bowed out after Sunrisers Hyderabad beat them in the Eliminator. The Challengers have played the final three times, but are yet to get their hands on the IPL trophy after 13 seasons.