Run of the pricey MILL!

The battlefield is set with the big guns ready to face all action and lightening sessions. While the core of RCB line-up is intact with Kohli, Gayle and ABD at the helm, the Red Devils have a newcomer, Tymal Mills as an added bonus.

As the season of IPL cricketing action and drama gets set to kickstart on April 5, we find out from city’s cricket fans on what they feel about their favourite RCB players. There were a lot of hits and misses at the IPL auction held in Bengaluru on February 20, but the mood seems upbeat with the RCB fans in the city.

While it was a sheer stroke of luck for Ben Stokes who became the most-expensive player ever, it was time to say adieu to Royal Challengers Bangalore fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who decided to pull out of this year’s IPL; while Ishant Sharma and Imran Tahir went unsold. We find out more on what fans expect from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team.

RCB has spent big moolah on Tymal Mills. Tymal Mills was sold to RCB for Rs 12 crores and Aniket Choudhary was sold for Rs 2 crores. RJ Rakesh, official in-stadia entertainer for IPL, shares, “RCB now seems like that one army which will destroy anything that comes in its way. The men with the bat were unquestionable on this side because they were and are best in the world. And now the men with the ball are no less thanks to the new sensation Tymal Mills and the 6 feet 6-inch Australian Billy Stanlake, who will unsettle a lot of wood works behind the batsmen. Kohli and Gayle continue to be the key players and there’s no question of replacing them. They’re synonymous with RCB and AB Villiers is the lifeline of RCB. It’s going to be chills, thrills and kills. I’ve started my voice exercises to hit the mike. With Tymal Mills, we now have a well-rounded team to cruise through the finish line to glory.”

Billy Stanlake was bought by Bangalore for Rs 30 lakh and Pawan Negi for Rs 1 crore. Manoj Nama K, co-founder, SmartEarth Advisory & Solutions LLP adds, “RCB has been in good form with a combo of skill sets required for fireworks. The batting line-up is strong and it was time to strengthen the attack as that plays a critical role in a T20 format. Post the current auction, I strongly believe, we have a well rounded team to cross the finish line. Gung-Ho RCB, go rock it!”

There seems to be an air of positivity around with many RCB fans keeping their fingers crossed. Numerologist Sheelaa M Bajaj shares, “Tymal Mills from England was a great buy as he’s a left hand fast bowler and a game changer. He can turn the game anytime. Billy is also a great buy as he is pretty capable of a tough fight. Overall, it’s a good team. Although, there are very few buys this time, our team looks like it’s on the winning track.”