Rajasthan Royals (RR) spinner Yuzvendra Chahal admitted that he was furious that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) did not go all-in to sign him at the IPL 2022 mega auction after he was unexpectedly released by the franchise. He claimed that RCB promised him that they would do everything possible to bring him back to the franchise, but nothing came of it during the mega auction.
Chahal, a renowned Indian cricketer, has had an illustrious career in the Indian Premier League (IPL), particularly with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Born on July 23, 1990, Chahal is known for his exceptional leg spin bowling. His journey in the IPL began with the Mumbai Indians in 2011, but it was with RCB that he truly made his mark.
“When I put my name up for the auction, they promised me that they would go all out for me. I said okay, but then I was very angry [He was not picked by RCB]. I think I did not speak to the coaches for 2-3 days. Even when I played my first match for RR against RCB, I did not speak to anyone,” Chahal said in an interview on Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube channel.
Chahal was signed by RCB in 2014, marking the beginning of an eight-year stint that would see him become one of the team’s most valuable players. During his tenure with RCB, Chahal played a pivotal role in the team’s bowling attack, often completing his quota before the 16th over. His performances were instrumental in many of RCB’s victories, earning him the Man of the Match award against Delhi Daredevils in IPL 2014.
Over the years, Chahal’s contributions to RCB were significant. He played 114 matches for the team, taking 177 wickets in 136 innings, with a strike rate of 16.94 and an average of 21.50. His best individual figure was an impressive 5/40. Despite his success, Chahal’s journey with RCB came to an abrupt end when the team did not retain him ahead of the 2022 IPL mega auction. This decision was met with disappointment by Chahal, who felt a deep connection with the team and the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which he considered his favorite ground.
“Definitely, I felt very bad. My main journey started [from there] in 2014. I also felt very weird because I played for the franchise for eight years. I would also say that I got the India cap because of my performances for RCB because they gave me a chance to perform. From the very first match, Virat [Kohli] bhai showed trust in me. It feels bad because I had been there for eight years,” Chahal added.
