IPL 2024: Ex-RCB coach Mike Hesson reveals why Yuzvendra Chahal was not picked in auction

Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Mike Hesson has revealed he will remain 'frustrated' beyond his coaching career that Yuzvendra Chahal was not retained by the franchise under his stewardship. 

Chahal was the leading bowler for RCB up until the 2020 mega auction when he was surprisingly let go by the three-time finalists - a decision that even left the leg-spinner shocked. 

During an interview on JioCinema, Hesson explained that not retaining Chahal allowed additional flexibility to RCB which was attempting to secure both him and pacer Harshal Patel in the auction. 

“He’s (Chahal) an outstanding bowler and I guess when you come to every cycle you have to decide who are you going to retain. It’s one of those things where if you only retain three players, then that’s an extra four crores in the auction,” Hesson said.

However, once at the auction table, things went south for RCB as the order of player's names up for auction was changed, which pushed Chahal's name down the order. 

“That potentially gave us the chance to get both Harshal and Yuzi. But then the order of the auction came up and Yuzuvendra Chahal was at number 65. Because we retained that many players, we were going to get bullied,” said Hesson.

As a result, RCB management took the less-risky call and signed Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga for Rs 10.75 crores - a decision that didn't age well in hindsight. 

"Yuzi (Chahal) is one I will be frustrated with until I have finished my career and probably beyond. He is an outstanding bowler," added Hesson.

Chahal reaches landmark 

RCB think tank would have been gutted further after witnessing Chahal create history in Jaipur on Monday (Apr 22) by picking his 200th IPL wicket, a feat achieved by no other bowler in the tournament's 17-year-long history.

During the match against Mumbai Indians, Chahal picked up Mohammed Nabi's wicket in his first over to reach the landmark. 

The reaction from the leg-spinner, currently left out of the Indian side, showed the milestone meant a great deal to him. 

Highest wicket-takers in IPL

200 wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal

183 wickets: Dwayne Bravo

181 wickets: Piyush Chawla

174 wickets: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

173 wickets: Amit Mishra