Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the fierce rivals in the Indian Premier League. Every time they clash against each other, viewership hits the roof and there is also a lot of attention on social media. The IPL 2022 Mega-Auctions concluded recently in Bengaluru. Looking at RCB’s squad for the upcoming campaign, it turns out that it contains a few former CSK players in it. On that note, in this article, we take a look at the list of five former CSK players who will play for RCB in IPL 2022.
1) Faf du Plessis
There are some foreign cricketers who enjoy a special relationship with a franchise. The association of Faf du Plessis and CSK was one such bond. The South African played 92 games for the unit and scored 2721 runs for the franchise. In IPL 2020, he helped CSK avoid the wooden spoon while in IPL 2021, he helped the MS Dhoni-led squad to go on and win the title.
At IPL 2022 Mega-Auctions, the CSK management tried its best to hire the cricketer. However, RCB was looking at an era post-AB de Villiers and earmarked Faf to replace him. Of course, he might have also been targeted as the ideal option to replace Virat Kohli as the skipper. Hence, they went as far as INR 7 Cr for the 37-year-old.
2) Josh Hazlewood
The current No.2 in the list of ICC’s T20I bowling charts, Josh Hazlewood has become a revelation in the shortest format of the game. At IPL 2020 Auctions, he was picked up by CSK at his base price. Across two years, he went on to play 12 games for the unit. He returned with 12 wickets, with a few of them coming at crucial junctures.
Now, the Aussie pacer will represent RCB in IPL 2022. It seems that the RCB management had zeroed on him as the new-ball partner for Mohammed Siraj. Hence, they paid in excess of INR 7 Cr for the cricketer.
3) Karn Sharma
Karn Sharma is one of the former CSK players who will play for RCB in IPL 2022. It was actually with RCB that Karn started his IPL career. Back when IPL was held in South Africa in 2009, the Railways cricketer played a game for the men in red.
Later, he represented outfits such as Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians. However, in IPL 2018 Mega-Auctions, CSK shelled a heavy amount to hire the cricketer. That said, the leg-spinner did not get a lot of chances. Hence, he was released and Karn will now represent RCB in IPL 2022.
4) David Willey
David Willey has represented only one IPL team before and that was Chennai Super Kings. It happened in 2018 when CSK had made a return to the competition. The English all-rounder played three games that season but could pick up just two wickets. He was released and later did not get picked by any franchise.
However, thanks to his impressive displays in domestic events, Willey has found an IPL franchise for 2022. The player was one of the final signings for RCB at the recent auctions. He will act as the backup for Josh Hazlewood and Wanindu Hasaranga in the playing XI.
5) Jason Behrendorff
Jason Behrendorff is one of the former CSK players who will play for RCB in IPL 2022. Ahead of IPL 2021, Josh Hazlewood had pulled out of the competition and hence, CSK had to name a replacement. Hence, they picked Jason, who offered similar attributes to that of his countryman. However, the left-arm pacer did not get a game. Back in 2019, the Aussie also represented the Mumbai Indians.
RCB picked the cricketer at his base price in the IPL 2022 Mega-Auctions. Like in CSK, Jason will be back up to Josh Hazlewood in RCB, as well. That said, if the management does want some variety in the bowling attack, they could have the left-arm pacer in the playing XI.
