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Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

All ten IPL teams have declared the players they will release and retain before the IPL 2024 auction in Dubai on December 19. Shortly after the retention cut-off time, Hardik Pandya was traded from the Gujarat Titans (GT) to his long-time IPL team, the Mumbai Indians (MI).

On November 26, the ten IPL franchises released a total of 81 players. The Punjab Kings released the fewest players, while the Kolkata Knight Riders released the most (12).

The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) also shared the list of their released players which includes Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Wayne Parnell, David Willey, Sonu Yadav, Avinash Singh, Siddharth Kaul and Kedar Jadhav.

Here are the 3 RCB-released players CSK could target in the IPL 2024 auction:

1. Wanindu Hasaranga

Sri Lanka’s foremost spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was very good for RCB in the three seasons he played with them. In 26 matches, he took 35 wickets with 26 of them coming in IPL 2022. His overall economy was 8.13 and he also contributed with the bat lower down the order. RCB probably released him to free up more than INR 10 crores for the IPL 2024 auction.

While there is a chance RCB might go after Hasaranga to get him for a lower price, Chennai Super Kings will also have their eyes on the Sri Lankan spinner as Maheesh Theekshana’s form with the ball went down during the ICC World Cup 2023 and Hasaranga is a much better and suited spinner for Chepauk surface. He also gives depth to the CSK batting order and MS Dhoni loves such spirited bowlers.

2. Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel parted ways with RCB after three wonderful seasons. He was the Purple Cap holder in IPL 2021 with RCB, taking 32 wickets and equaling the record of Dwayne Bravo for most wickets in an IPL season. Patel then picked 19 and 14 wickets in IPL 2022 and 2023, respectively, but the issue was his economy. Once batters read him properly, he went for runs, especially in death overs. 

While RCB freed up INR 10 crores and more by letting Harshal Patel go, CSK might want to gobble him up in the IPL 2024 auction. Harshal Patel has the variations and killer yorker suited for Chepauk wicket. And he is a gun batter as well, giving MS Dhoni and co. option to play alongside Deepak Chahar and Mukesh Choudhary.  

3. Josh Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood had won the IPL in 2021 with Chennai Super Kings but spent the next two seasons with RCB. Josh Hazlewood was a star for RCB with 20 wickets in 12 matches in IPL 2022, but he was dealing with an Achilles injury before and during the IPL 2023, which meant that he could only play three matches for RCB, before going back home.

With Hazlewood being released by the RCB, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) might want the tall Australian bowler back in their hut and might go for him in the IPL 2024 auction. However, with Josh Hazlewood expecting a child in March next year, he might not be available for the entire season and this might deter CSK from going after him.