We did get all the players we had rated very highly - Malolan Rangarajan on RCB’s patient approach at the WPL 2027 Auction

Royal Challengers Bengaluru head coach Malolan Rangarajan expressed satisfaction at the think-tank having landed every player they had targeted at the WPL 2027 Auction in Kochi, crediting patience at the table for a successful outing.

RCB added four players to their squad on Wednesday in Australian all-rounder Jess Jonassen (INR 40 lakh), South African all-rounder Chloe Tryon (INR 30 lakh), and Indian batters Tejal Hasabnis (INR 30 lakh) and Vrinda Dinesh (INR 10 lakh). The franchise spent INR 1.1 crore of its INR 1.15 crore purse and completed a 17-member squad for the new season.

Speaking after the WPL 2027 Auction, Malolan explained how the auction dynamics and the way it unfolded meant RCB had to hold their nerve before making their moves.

He said, “We did get all the players we had rated very highly, so very happy with that. That’s the auction, isn’t it? The auction order played out in such a way that we had to stay patient, we had to sit tight with a lot of money. It might have felt like, you know, we’re letting go of a few players, but it happened in such a way that the players we liked went unsold and the players that we wanted came in later.”

The head coach admitted that although RCB did bid aggressively for all-rounder Sophie Molineux in vain, he was delighted with the group they came away with.

Malolan stated, “Of course, we did bid for Soph (Sophie) Molineux, who we didn’t get, but otherwise all the other players that we’ve got, we’re very happy with. We rate them very highly, and I’m pretty sure they’ll improve our team this year.”

Among the overseas additions is Tryon, who joins compatriot Nadine de Klerk in the RCB dressing room. Malolan opened with a light-hearted take before highlighting the experience she brings.

He began, “So Nadine (de Klerk) won’t feel bored. She’ll have someone to speak Afrikaans with. But again, Chloe Tryon, jokes apart, is a very experienced international player. She has been playing franchise cricket around the world. Importantly, has also played in the WPL, so she understands what the WPL is.”

Malolan also added, “(She) brings in that experience that we really value, excited to have Chloe Tryon with us.”

RCB begin their title defence when WPL 2027 gets underway on January 14th.