Adam Zampa IPL 2020 team: Australian spinner replaces Kane Richardson at RCB

Adam Zampa IPL 2020: The Australian spinner has replaced his countryman in Kane Richardson at Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Australia spinner Adam Zampa has replaced his countryman in Kane Richardson at Royal Challengers Bangalore for the imminent 13th season of the Indian Premier League. The surprising development was made public by RCB who took to their Twitter handle to post a thread.

Richardson, 29, has been a regular face in the Australian T20I side in the last two years or so. In 14 IPL matches, Richardson’s 18 dismissals have come at an average of 24.61 and a strike rate of 17.61.

Having made his IPL debut for Pune Warriors in 2013, Richardson went on to play for Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2014 and 2016 respectively. With a base price of INR 1.5 crore, Richardson was bought for INR 4 crore by RCB following a bidding war with Royals in this year’s auction.

The right-hand bowler has opted out of the cash-rich league to remain with his wife as the couple is expecting the birth of their first child soon.

Adam Zampa IPL 2020

Zampa will join RCB’s spin unit comprising of Yuzvendra Chahal, Moeen Ali, Washington Sundar, Pawan Negi and Shahbaz Ahmed. With Chahal a permanent name in their starting XI, it will be interesting to see if captain Virat Kohli plays two leg spinners in the same XI.

Zampa’s IPL experience comprises of a two-year stint at Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016-17. In 11 matches for Pune, Zampa had picked 19 wickets at an average of 14.63, an economy rate of 7.55 and a strike rate of 11.63 including career-best bowling figures of 4-0-19-6 against SunRisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam.

Currently in England as part of Australia’s 21-member squad for their white-ball tour, Zampa will fly to UAE alongside the Australian and English contingent for IPL 2020.

Having picked 16 wickets in 17 T20Is at an average of 23.12 and an economy rate of 6.21, Zampa is Australia’s highest wicket-taker in the format in the last two years. The 28-year old player would be looking to create a similar impact on UAE’s spin-friendly wickets in whatever opportunities he gets for Royal Challengers in IPL 2020.