The anticipation of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 is already gripping cricket enthusiasts across India, despite being just a week out from a heartbreaking finale in the World Cup 2023 where India faced defeat against Australia. Interestingly, the buzz of the IPL’s retention day on Sunday (November 26) seemed to eclipse even the excitement surrounding the second T20I between India and Australia.
With the reveal of retained and released players by all 10 IPL teams, fans and pundits alike are abuzz with speculation and surprise. Among the flurry of announcements, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) choice to part with Australian paceman Josh Hazlewood has raised eyebrows. Hazlewood, known for his clinical performance in the recent ODI World Cup in India, where he claimed 16 wickets, as well as his substantial tally of 23 wickets over two IPL seasons at an impressive average of 19.69, seemed like an asset to the team.
Despite this, the fast bowler featured in only three matches in the 2023 IPL edition due to an Achilles heel injury. The decision to release such a prodigious talent left many in the cricketing world puzzled until RCB’s recently appointed head coach Andy Flower provided much-needed clarity. According to Flower, Hazlewood and his wife are expecting the arrival of a baby in March 2024, making it unlikely that Hazlewood would be able to participate in at least the first half of the coming season.
In a video posted on RCB’s Twitter account, Flower stated, “Josh Hazlewood…very pleasingly, has a baby on the way, due in March. So Josh won’t be with us, certainly not for the first half of the season.”
Amidst this roster shakeup, rumors are swirling that RCB may have struck a deal to bring Cameron Green over from the Mumbai Indians in an all-cash trade. As of now, neither the IPL governors nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have made any official announcements regarding this potential transaction.
As fans pore over the details of the player retentions and releases, it’s clear that preparations for IPL 2024 are well underway. RCB has chosen to retain key players such as Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, and several others who will be expected to contribute significantly in the next season.
On the other hand, players including Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, and, notably, Josh Hazlewood have been released, creating opportunities for them to be picked up by other franchises in the auction. Other exits from RCB include Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, David Willey, Wayne Parnell, and a few more, signaling a strategy shift within the RCB camp as they look to rebuild and refine their squad composition.
While the cricket world awaits official confirmations and further developments, the buzz of the IPL continues to foster discussions and debates among fans and experts. With the tournament’s next season on the horizon, the moves made during this retention period will undoubtedly set the stage for the strategic battles that lie ahead. The stake is high, and the strategies are as opaque as ever as the RCB camp, under the guidance of Andy Flower, braces for another chance at securing the elusive IPL title.