Former Indian fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad has criticized Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), questioning their approach to team building. Prasad wonders if RCB prioritizes building a brand over winning the Indian Premier League (IPL), pointing to their limited investment in local players over the years.
RCB is set to begin their IPL season on March 22 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Kolkata. Currently, their squad includes only two players from Karnataka: Manoj Bhandage, who hasn’t played a match since joining in 2023, and Devdutt Padikkal. Padikkal previously had successful seasons with RCB in 2020 and 2021 before experiencing mixed results with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). RCB re-acquired Padikkal in the auction for his base price of Rs 2 crores.
Historically, numerous successful cricketers from Karnataka, such as Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, and Mayank Agarwal, have represented RCB. However, RCB’s success has largely depended on international stars like Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Faf Du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell, unlike some other IPL teams that have built their identity around local players.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Venkatesh Prasad commented on RCB’s management, stating that team management is crucial. He questioned why RCB isn’t focusing on local talent like other franchises, asking if their primary goal is brand building or winning the IPL. Prasad emphasized the need for RCB to maximize the potential of their players, which he believes hasn’t happened yet.
Former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee also discussed RCB’s impressive turnaround last season. After a poor start with only one win in their first eight games, they made a remarkable comeback to reach the playoffs with six consecutive victories.
Lee mentioned on JioHotstar that many had written RCB off early in the season, but he had predicted their success. He highlighted their unexpected journey to the playoffs.
Similarly, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra noted that RCB’s playoff chances once seemed almost impossible. However, hope emerged, leading to belief and ultimately a strong comeback.
Chopra concluded that RCB’s season was a story of fighting back and exceeding expectations. Despite not winning the IPL trophy, he believes RCB will look back on the season with pride for their resilience and performance.
