The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are gearing up for another edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Led by Faf du Plessis, a standout among the franchise’s most influential overseas players, the team’s management has consistently harnessed the best global talent, a key factor in their performance.
This blog will look at the IPL 2024 overseas players in RCB and how they fare in the upcoming season, starting on March 22, when the team will take on Chennai Super Kings at Chidambaram Stadium.
Complete List of RCB Overseas Players
Among the 25 players that were named for the season, eight are overseas. The key players include skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green, who has been traded from the Mumbai Indians. Here’s a complete list of RCB overseas players:
- Faf du Plessis
- Glenn Maxwell
- Will Jacks
- Reece Topley
- Cameron Green
- Alzarri Joseph
- Tom Curran
- Lockie Ferguson
We look at each of the overseas players closely:
Faf du Plessis:
One of the best modern-day batters, Du Plessis, will not only lead RCB this season but will be the leading light of the Bengaluru-based franchise’s top order alongside Virat Kohli.
He was handed the leadership role in 2022 as Virat Kohli stepped down from the position. The former South African captain was bought for ₹7 crore and was retained for the second consecutive year ahead of the 2024 edition.
Du Plessis scored 468 runs in 2022, while in 2023, he accounted for 730 runs, including eight fifties.
Glenn Maxwell:
Think big hitting; think Maxwell! Thanks to his all-round abilities, Maxwell was always the big catch for IPL teams from the start. It was no different for RCB, which bought him for ₹14.25 crore ahead of 2021.
He has been retained ever since. Meanwhile, the 35-year-old had taken to his role at the franchise like a duck takes to the water. He scored 513 runs in 2021, lagging in 2022, where he scored 301 runs, only to bounce back with a run tally of 400 runs in 2023.
Cameron Green:
Traded by the Mumbai Indians, Green was the game-changer for his former franchise in 2023. In a notable move, he was traded at his earlier price of ₹17.5 crore to RCB.
In 2023, he scored 452 runs in 16 games at an impressive strike rate of 160. Green is also a handy medium pacer. The Aussie is expected to repeat such a performance for RCB in 2024
Lockie Ferguson:
The Kiwi pacer can be the key for the Red and Gold Brigade in the upcoming season. Lockie Ferguson, who was bought for ₹2 crore, is expected to share the new ball, provided the sheer pace he produces.
The 32-year-old’s fitness can also be an issue, as he played just three matches for the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2023. Nevertheless, in 2021 and 2022, he picked up 13 and 12 wickets, respectively.
Alzarri Joseph:
Alzarri Joseph, the fast bowler hailing from Antigua, created a sensation when he picked up six wickets on his IPL debut in the 2019 season. But since then, his flamboyance has been on the wane.
Nonetheless, RCB management thought otherwise and had paid him ₹11.5 crore. He can seam, swing the new ball, and deliver at the death for the Du Plessis-led side.
Tom Curran:
The elder brother of Sam Curran, Tom Curran, has yet to achieve his brother’s IPL fanfare status. But come 2024, he would look to prove his detractors wrong after having been bought for ₹1.5 crore in the 2024 auction.
Curran’s availability is still an issue after suffering a knee injury in the recently concluded Big Bash League. Curran has represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals in IPL.
Reece Topley:
Another England import, Reece Topley, is a left-armer who angles the ball into the right-handers. Bought for ₹1.9 crore, Topley could play a handful of matches in 2023, after which he was ruled out due to a shoulder injury.
He was retained before the IPL 2024 auction. Topley can form a potent pace attack alongside Alzarri Joseph and Mohammed Siraj. However, Topley was recently ruled out of the Pakistan Super League, which has now put a question mark on his IPL participation.
Will Jacks:
Will Jacks is a top-order batter who can be the game-changer for RCB this season. The 25-year-old was purchased for ₹3.2 crore thanks to his amazing ability to clean hit.
He was part of the RCB squad in 2023 but missed out due to an injury. He recently scored a century, which came off just 41 balls in the 2023 SA20 League.
FAQs about RCB Overseas Players
Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, Reece Topley, Tom Curran, and Will Jacks are RCB’s overseas players in IPL 2024.
RCB bought Cameron Green for ₹17.5 crore from Mumbai Indians.
Glenn Maxwell is the most popular overseas player in the RCB squad. He has been part of the franchise since the 2021 season.