With IPL 2023 just around the corner, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be hoping to break their trophy drought and make the most of the Impact Player rule. This new rule allows teams to switch one player in their playing XI during stipulated time frames, provided they name four overseas players in the squad if they want the impact player to be an Indian. To ensure they reach their goal, RCB should carefully consider which players they use as impact players and who they don’t in the upcoming tournament. Here are three players RCB should not utilize as impact players in IPL 2023.
3) Mahipal Lomror
Mahipal Lomror, a former U19 Indian cricketer, is a hard-hitting batter in the middle order whose form last season showed glimpses of brilliance. Despite his potential, he is not a sure-shot starter for the team, and it is likely not advisable to use him as an impact player, given the middle order already consists of Glenn Maxwell and Dinesh Karthik.
2) Karn Sharma
Karn Sharma was RCB’s pick last year, but he was left warming the bench for the entire season; this year is likely to remain the same. With the presence of Wanindu Hasaranga, the Royal Challengers have little incentive to bring Sharma as an impact player in the middle overs. Hasaranga has already established himself as a reliable bowler across all phases of the game, earning him one of the overseas spots on the team. After his impressive outing in IPL 2022 with 26 wickets, Faf du Plessis will put his faith in Hasaranga rather than taking a chance on Sharma.
1) Finn Allen
Despite being with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for some time, Finn Allen has yet to appear in an IPL fixture. On the other hand, he is a regular starter for New Zealand in the T20 format and has notched up 616 runs from 28 innings at an impressive strike rate of more than 160. Unfortunately, his usual role for the Kiwis is at the top of the order, and it would be difficult for him to break into the RCB line-up since du Plessis typically opens the batting. It would be rare that Allen could join the action as an impact player.