RCB is branded as a distinct, star-driven franchise that has never been able to nurture an innate pool of players, unlike a few other ones around.
Hence, Venkatesh Prasad is not very happy about the team’s priorities on the home front. In a talk show on JioHotstar, he said:”Other teams have been believing in local talent, so what is wrong with RCB? Is it building a brand or is it with that sole motive of winning the IPL?”
Bengaluru’s current team perhaps has Manoj Bhandage and Devdutt Padikkal as local players. The former is an all-rounder who played the Karnataka Premier League and had been in RCB’s squad for the last two seasons as well; however, he did not get a game.
Bhandage last played in December in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he accounted for 7 wickets in 7 games with an economy of 7.55. Padikkal has played for Bengaluru before, with his last appearance in the Ranji Trophy where he made 129 runs in 4 games with a 32.25 average.
Padikkal, on the other hand, has plied his trade for Bengaluru before. He was last seen in action in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 129 runs in four matches at an average of 32.25. The likes of former India spinner Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid were part of the franchise in the initial years.
Other local players like Manish Pandey, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal and R Vinay Kumar became part of the team but couldn’t leave a lasting impression.
Meanwhile, not just Prasad but Bengaluru received some flak from across the border as well. Former Pakistan opener Ahmad Shahzad said that he has a solution to end Bengaluru’s trophy drought, which is by making Mohammad Amir play in the tournament.
Shahzad’s comments came in a GEO TV show which had Amir and former Pakistan wicketkeeper Rashid Latif, who said that Bengaluru shouldn’t even think of laying their hands on the IPL trophy till former India captain MS Dhoni is playing for the Chennai Super Kings.
