IPL 2021 trade window: RCB trade Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel from Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2021 auction

RCB trade Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel: Royal Challengers Bangalore have included a couple of all-rounders ahead of IPL 2021 auction.

In addition to retaining 12 and releasing 10 players ahead of IPL 2021 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore also became the first team to include players via the IPL trade window.

With the IPL 2021 auction all but likely to happen on February 11, it is worth mentioning that the trading window will be open till February 4. All teams are allowed to trade players in player-for-player or all-cash deal depending on both the parties.

As far as Royal Challengers are concerned, they have acquired a couple of Delhi Capitals all-rounders in Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel in an all-cash deal, details of why haven’t been made public as of now.

RCB trade Daniel Sams and Harshal Patel

Sams, who made his IPL debut in the last season, had been roped in as England batsman Jason Roy’s replacement. The Australian left-arm bowler remained wicketless in the three IPL 2020 matches he played.

Having played a couple of T20Is for Australia since then, Sams is currently representing Sydney Thunder in the ongoing season of the Big Bash League. In nine matches so far this season, Sams’ 10 wickets have come at an economy and strike rate of 8.58 and 16 respectively.

However, it is his batting which has improved manifold times this season. Having scored 199 runs at an average and strike rate of 49.75 and 191.34 respectively including a couple of half-centuries in BBL 10, it makes complete sense as to why RCB have released South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris today.

Patel, on the other hand, had played five T20s for Capitals last season picking three wickets at an average and economy rate of 44.66 and 8.93 respectively. Patel, who had picked 12 wickets in as many matches for Delhi at 31.50 and 9.33 across three seasons, will now return to his previous franchise.

Having made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers in 2012, Patel had represented them in five season before moving to Delhi. In 36 matches for RCB between 2012-2017, Patel had dismissed 34 batsmen at an average of 28.56, an economy rate of 8.53 and a strike rate of 20.09.