IPL 2020: RCB rope in Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa as replacement for Kane Richardson

Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday announced the signing of Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Zampa will replace his senior national teammate and fast bowler Kane Richardson and add to the firepower in the spin department.

Kane Richardson was bought for Rs 4 crore by RCB at the IPL 2020 auction after a fierce bidding war. However, the Australia fast bowler will not be part of IPL 2020 as he is due to become a father.

“The RCB family is excited for Kane and his wife who are expecting the birth of their first child and respect his decision to pull out of the tournament,” RCB said in a social media post.

Adam Zampa, who went unsold at the auction after setting his base price at Rs 1.5 crore, had previously represented Rising Pune Supergiant. Zampa will join the likes of Yuzvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar, and Pawan Negi as RCB boast of a formidable spin unit to make use of the conditions in the UAE.

‘Conditions in UAE allowed us to bring in another quality spinner’

“We are disappointed to not have Kane’s skills with us this IPL as he certainly on top of his game,” said RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mike Hesson.

“However, once we found out Kane and Nyki’s baby was due during the IPL, it’s an exciting time and we were fully supportive of Kane wanting to be at the birth of their first child.

“When looking at our squad for UAE conditions we felt it was an opportunity to bring in another quality legspinner in Adam Zampa to provide cover for Chahal and also give us extra options if conditions suit spin as expected during the tournament.”

Zampa played 11 matches for the now-defunct RPS in IPL 2016 and 2017 and picked up 19 wickets at a staggering average of 14.63. The leg-spinner has a terrific record against RCB captain Virat Kohli who will now be only facing him at the nets.

RCB haven’t gone for a like-for-like replacement, considering the conditions in the UAE which are expected to suit the spinners.

The Virat Kohli-led team completed its mandatory quarantine period in the UAE and has begun training at the ICC Academy in Dubai. Head coach Mike Hesson said RCB will be training in batches in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in the lead up to IPL 2020.

IPL 2020 will be played from September 19 to November 10 across 3 cities in the UAE – Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Kohli-led side are reportedly in line to play the opening match against Mumbai Indians.

RCB squad for IPL 2020: Virat Kohli (captain), Aaron Finch, AB de Villiers, Josh Philippe, Parthiv Patel, Dale Steyn, Adam Zampa, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Chris Morris, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Isuru Udana, Moeen Ali, Pavan Deshpande, Pawan Negi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar.