Mike Hesson, the former Director of Cricket Operations at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), has shed light on the decision to release Yuzvendra Chahal after a longstanding association with the team. The move sparked questions about RCB’s communication with the leg-spinner, who had been a key player for the franchise.
Hesson addressed the matter during a live interaction on Unwind with Cricket.com, providing insights into the rationale behind Chahal’s release. He explained that the decision stemmed from a strategic approach to the auction and the team’s desire to retain specific players.
“When we did the initial retention, we only retained three players because we wanted to try and buy back both Harshal Patel and Yuzi at the auction,” Mike Hesson revealed. He expressed frustration over the auction dynamics, highlighting that Chahal, despite being one of RCB’s all-time greats and a stellar performer in the IPL, wasn’t among the top two marquee players.
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The former RCB official emphasized the difficulty of securing Chahal’s services in a competitive auction where multiple teams were vying for him.
“If we let go of all the bowlers before that and then we got to bidding for Yuzi, and everyone knew we were going for Yuzi and we didn’t get him, we could have got bullied by five other teams and then been left with no leg spinner,” Mike Hesson explained.
Whole Chahal Auction explained by Hesson
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He further detailed the team’s pursuit of Wanindu Hasaranga as an alternative to Chahal. Hesson spoke about the exhaustive discussions and simulations undertaken to navigate the complex auction dynamics and ensure a balanced squad.
Following the auction, Mike Hesson acknowledged the disappointment felt by Chahal. “I remember ringing Yuzi afterwards; he was upset, and I was trying to explain to him the auction dynamics. He was not interested, and I don’t blame him. He was an RCBian, and he was frustrated,” Hesson stated.
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Hesson clarified that Chahal was aware of the challenges faced by the management during the auction. He highlighted that decisions were made collectively and that he, as an individual, wasn’t the sole decision-maker. The release of Chahal marked the end of a significant chapter for the spinner at RCB, but Hesson’s insights provide a glimpse into the complexities and considerations involved in team management during the IPL auction.
