IPL 2019: 3 Overseas players whom RCB should've bought in the auctions

Royal Challengers Bangalore entered the 2019 Indian Premier League with some hope of lifting their maiden IPL trophy. However, after losing their first six matches chances are looking extremely slim for them. They might even end up the season as the wooden spoon holders.

What went wrong for RCB in all these matches is a subject for another discussion. Individual players seem to have some weaknesses which are brutally being exposed by other sides. Generally, it is not inappropriate for a team to have players with flaws.

After all the motive of IPL is to improve promising talents by giving them opportunities. However, experienced professionals are also necessary for the sake of team balance. Without the guidance of matured players, young talents would undoubtedly struggle.

Maybe that's the case why RCB bought Dale Steyn halfway through the tournament to replace Nathan Coulter Nile. Steyn is a specialist bowler with years of IPL experience behind him. It is an indisputable fact that he should've been bought at the auctions itself.

There are three overseas players whom RCB should've bought at the auctions alongside the unsold Dale Steyn. Let us have a look at them.

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#3 Brendon McCullum

Brendon McCullum

Why RCB decided to release such an experienced veteran like Brendon McCullum seems so puzzling. Yes, he did not play well in the previous season. However, a legend like McCullum should not be written off easily.

In the 2018 auctions, they bought him for ₹3.60 crores. As no team showed interest in him RCB had the opportunity to grab him for a reduced cost. Still, they let the opportunity pass.

McCullum is a natural hitter who can score quick centuries in T20 cricket. With McCullum as an opening batsman, Virat would've possessed some flexibility to bat at any positions he wants. If six losses make the team regret not buying Dale Steyn at the auctions then more losses will surely cause them to worry for letting off the New Zealand legend.

#2 Rilee Rossouw

Rilee Rossouw

Their left-handed overseas batsman Shimron Hetmeyer didn't do anything much for them in the first half of IPL 2019. If they had bought Rilee Rossouw instead things would've gone differently for them. Rossouw had been with them during 2014 and 15.

Additionally, the southpaw has the experience of playing alongside AB de Villiers on various occasions. As no franchises showed interest on him, the South African would've costed less than Hetmyer. Rossouw is an experienced batsman with more than 4000 runs to his name in T20 competitions. He also showed a red hot form in the recently concluded BPL.

Rossouw ended the 2019 Bangladesh Premier League as the highest run scorer. He notched 558 runs in just 13 innings with an average of 69.75 and a strike rate of 150.00. Such a batting would've been so valuable for RCB in the earlier stages of the tournament.

Patel and McCullum as openers with Virat, ABD, and Rossouw coming after them would've been a destructive batting lineup.

#1 Carlos Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite

Carlos Brathwaite would've cost them more than both McCullum and Rossouw combined. However, the West Indies all-rounder is worthy of consideration. Brathwaite would've been an answer for both their lower order and bowling conundrums.

Over the years the Carribean players have dominated the IPL. Even this year, West Indies players like Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard, and Alzarri Joseph are showing why every team needs some good Caribbean magic.

Kolkata Knight Riders won an auction war against Kings XI Punjab and got Brathwaite for ₹5.00 crores. However, if RCB intervened they would've had a good chance of snatching the all-rounder. After all the KKR management seems to consider Brathwaite only as a backup player for Andre Russell. Thus, they wouldn't have bought him at any cost back then.

Brathwaite played a huge role in West Indies' 2016 World Cup victory. Who would ever forget the last over carnage he displayed against Ben Stokes? The match-winning finisher would've complimented the other two aforementioned batsmen so well.