Team Bangalore has released a video as part of their series Bold Dairies, where the franchise revealed why they bid just once for Australia’s Steve Smith, before pulling out, at the Indian T20 League auction last week.
Smith, who was released by Rajasthan earlier this year, was eventually bought by Delhi for Rs 2.2 crore after Bangalore had initiated the bid for the former Australian captain.
Bold Diaries: The curious case of Steve Smith bid
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 23, 2021
Why did the RCB management withdraw after the first bid? Here’s the video of the planning that went behind the Steve Smith bid this #IPLAuction2021.#PlayBold pic.twitter.com/Nl60YrnoIB
The Virat Kohli-led team, through a video shared on their official Twitter handle, explained the reasons why they decided to do so. The franchise was interested in all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, given his dual prowess of power-hitting as well as bowling in the middle overs, something that was lacking in Steve Smith.
“Smith doesn’t bowl. Very clear. Whoever bats there (after Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers) has to be able to bowl. All the stats we’re doing are around batting, but they have to be a bowling option," Bangalore’s Director of operations Mike Hesson said in the video.
Bold Diaries: IPL Mock Auction Planning for Glenn Maxwell
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) February 22, 2021
The strategy and planning that led to RCB getting The Big show, Glenn Maxwell, into our #ClassOf2021. #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #IPLAuction2021 #BidForBold pic.twitter.com/UPjM29npab
Further in the video, Hesson also stressed upon the fact that a bid for Smith would see other teams spend their purse on the former Rajasthan captain, which would mean less competition for Maxwell’s signature.
However, Mike Hesson also went on record to reveal his contingency plan in case Bangalore would have signed Smith.
“If we’re left with Steve Smith at 2 crore, it’s not the end of the world. When we look at risk-reward, it’s not a bad result," he adds in the video.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / DIBYANGSHU SARKAR
