IPL 2018: 4 shocking overseas signings made by the RCB over the years

The Royal Challengers Bangalore are one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League. Even though the team has not won an IPL title yet, they have more than made up for their title drought with the entertainment value they add to the tournament.

The RCB have always been a franchise that has backed young talent and at the same time have been quite flexible in their selection policies. Throughout the course of IPL, they have chopped and changed a lot, keeping only the core of the side undisturbed.

The Bangalore franchise has not failed to pull off big surprises in selection though, hiring less known players from the foreign countries. Fans had not even heard the names of some of these players before they were picked by the RCB. Here is a look at 4 rmost shocking overseas signings of the RCB.

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#4 Nuwan Pradeep

The Sri Lankan quick was a surprising addition to the 2011 Royal Challengers Bangalore squad. Pradeep was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore even before his international debut.

He did not get a single game in his IPL career and was let go eventually. So far in his International career, Pradeep has struggled to find consistency. His performances at the death have been horrific in recent times.

Bowling has been RCB's eternal nemesis and instead of picking Pradeep, they could have invested in an experienced, reliable seamer who could have played for them for a number of years.

#3 Jonathan Vandiar

The South African left-handed batsman managed to find a place for himself in the RCB ranks without having played any international cricket. Vandiar was picked up by the RCB in 2011 and did not play a game for them.

Even though his record in domestic cricket has been decent across all formats for his state team, his T20 numbers are not particularly good. In 61 T20 matches, Vandiar has scored 1086 runs at a strike rate of 111.

It was a surprising choice made by the Royal Challengers Bangalore management to pick an inexperienced overseas player who had not even played international cricket. As it turned out, he was released from the squad shortly.

#2 Johan van der Wath

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RCB's love for South African players is undying. Over the years, so many South Africans have played for the Bangalore franchise. Johan van der Wath was one of them.

The fast bowling all-rounder from Natal who has played 10 ODIS and 8 T20Is for South Africa was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011 and played only three games for the men in red throughout his stint with them.

Considering Van der Wath was not in the scheme of things in international cricket for a long time, it was a shocking decision made by the Bangalore franchise. Post-retirement, Van der Wath took up a career in golf.

#1 Dillon du Preez

Dillon du Preez, the South African all-rounder played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009. Throughout his IPL career, he only played two games and was not picked again.

Du Preez has never gone on to represent South Africa in international cricket and hence his signing with the Bangalore franchise was surprising. It is always interesting when IPL teams opt for uncapped overseas players and Du Preez was one of them.

Dillion Du Preez has made a few CLT20 appearances for the RCB in 2009 and 2010. He also has experience of playing in English County as well. Clearly, the RCB were thinking out of the box when they picked du Preez.

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