The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have opted to swap Bengal all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar. This move has sparked a lot of debate and conflicting emotions.
Shahbaz had a very uneventful IPL 2023 season, appearing in ten matches, scoring forty-two runs, and taking only one wicket at a pitiful economy rate of 13.57. Given his performance, one might argue that getting him off the books was a wise decision.
However, RCB believes the following three factors make Shahbaz Ahmed’s trade illogical:
1. Shahbaz Ahmed Shines in IPL 2022 with Stellar Performances
Shahbaz Ahmed took four wickets in 16 IPL 2022 matches, but he also scored 219 runs, including some crucial cameos down the order. Shahbaz was serving as RCB’s finisher with Dinesh Karthik.
Aside from that, Shahbaz remains to be one of Bengal’s most important domestic performers, and one dismal season does not define the all-rounder. He has already demonstrated that he is a quick learner.
2. Mayank Dagar is not exactly a like-for-like replacement
While Mayank Dagar is a left-arm spinner with the ability to use the long handle, he may not be a match for Shahbaz Ahmed. While Shahbaz was capable of batting at No.5 or No.6, it is unclear whether Dagar would fill the same position.
Dagar has 55 wickets in 54 T20 games at a good economy rate of 6.57. However, he has only scored 72 runs in his whole T20 career, demonstrating how tiny the sample size is to label him as an all-rounder.
Dagar might be used as a specialist spinner, and RCB will need to recruit a lower-middle-order batsman like Shahbaz in the next auction.
3. RCB’s Impatience with Players
In T20 cricket, support may play an important part in a player’s and a franchise’s fortunes turning around. This is one area where RCB may have failed to demonstrate sufficient trust throughout the years.
RCB may have regretted letting go of players like KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, and even Tim David, who have gone on to produce regularly for other clubs.
There’s also a risk that RCB would come to regret selling Shabaz Ahmed, especially given his brilliance in all three categories.