IPL Auction 2020: 3 all-rounders who Royal Challengers Bangalore should target

After finishing a disappointing eighth last season, Royal Challengers Bangalore look determined to make it big this time around and indicated it with few bold releases ahead of the auction. Dale Steyn, Tim Southee and Marcus Stoinis were among the big names released as six overseas players made their way out of the team.

Here's the list of players who RCB released:

Akshdeep Nath, Himmat Singh, Prayas Ray Barman, Kulwant Khejroliya, Milind Kumar, Heinrich Klaasen, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer

With Mike Hesson the new Director of Cricket Operations and Simon Katich the Head Coach, the team will be spirited to make this season count. They surely will have a good discussion with Virat Kohli on who to sign at the auction and the list should surely include death bowlers and middle-order batsmen.

On that note, let's take a look at three all-rounders who RCB should target at the auction.

Also see - England New Zealand head to head

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#3 Sam Curran

Curran can strike the ball pretty well. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

After being bought for a whopping ₹7.2 crore in the last season by Kings XI Punjab, Sam Curran was released by KXIP ahead of the auction. While his performances weren't bad, they weren't good enough to retain him as his costly price tag worked against him.

However, now that he's back to the auction pool, several teams will be looking to sign the 21-year old.

Curran has been brilliant in the last couple of years and after securing his place in the Test Squad, he broke into the T20I squad for the series against New Zealand. He was the third-highest wicket-taker in the series with six wickets from five matches at a good bowling average of 25.50. He didn't get much opportunity with the bat but when he did, he scored at a great strike-rate of 152.17.

RCB should sign Sam Curran as he's capable of bowling at all stages of the game. From a batting perspective, he can put the foot down during the death overs and can start playing the big shots right from ball one. His batting prowess was evident when he smashed 55* against the Kolkata Knight Riders last season.

With so much talent in him and age on his side, RCB should target Sam Curran at the auction.

#2 James Neesham

Neesham is a great striker of the ball.

James Neesham is sure to be hot property at the auction after his exploits for New Zealand in the World Cup and the games after it. He has played in the IPL before for the Delhi Capitals but couldn't make the desired impact back then. Now that he's well-settled in the national side and is in a good patch of form, he could take the IPL by storm if purchased by the right franchise.

Neesham started to attract attention early in the year when he smashed 34 runs in one over against Sri Lanka showing off his tremendous ball-striking abilities. He followed it up with a strong, all-round effort in the World Cup. He also sizzled in the recent home series against England as he scored 63 runs from three matches at a mind-boggling strike-rate of 165.78 while picking up two wickets.

He's a perfect fit for the RCB side and could strike a good rapport with the coaching staff with his friendly outlook. He's also pretty experienced and could mentor a few of the upcoming players like Shivam Dube. He is a strike bowler and is capable of picking up wickets during crunch situations and can take the game to the opposition during the slog overs.

If they sign him at the auction, Neesham could certainly turn RCB's fortunes around.

#1 Chris Morris

Morris should be RCB's prime target at the auction. (Image Courtesy: IPLT20.com)

Being one of the most consistent players in the IPL, it was a surprise to see Chris Morris getting released by the Delhi Capitals. He did pretty well last season picking up 13 wickets from nine matches. But now that it has happened, it's the perfect opportunity for the other teams to get the Proteas all-rounder in their teams.

Morris is one of the most experienced T20 bowlers in the world and has picked up more than 230 wickets in 185 T20 matches at a brilliant bowling average of 21.78. Though he's more of a bowling all-rounder, Morris is very handy with the bat. His career strike-rate of 157.62 and batting average of 27.21 is reflective of his batting prowess. He has been brilliant so far in the Mzanzi Super League with four wickets from three matches at a stunning economy of 4.66.

He'd also fit in perfectly into the RCB camp because he's a pace-bowling all-rounder. While RCB has a lot of spin-bowling all-rounders in Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar, and Pawan Negi, they lack pace-bowling all-rounders.

With this much T20 experience and talent in him, Morris will be hot property at the auction and RCB must battle it out to get this bowler who will solve their death bowling woes.