IPL 2023: RCB Choose Michael Bracewell to Substitute the Injured Will Jacks

After losing their high-priced British batsman Will Jacks, Royal Challengers Bangalore hired all-rounder Michael Bracewell from New Zealand as a substitute for the 2023 Indian Premier League season (IPL). On Saturday, the Bengaluru-based team tweeted the news, saying that the 32-year-old Kiwi had taken the most wickets in the just-completed T20I series against India and had also scored an ODI century during the visit.

An earlier ESPNCricinfo report said that RCB had begun negotiations with Bracewell to take Jacks' spot. In 117 T20 matches, Bracewell has amassed 2,284 runs at a strike rate of 133.48, including a century and 13 fifty-plus scores. He has also claimed 40 T20 wickets. At the IPL mini-auction in December of last year, he had no luck, however. He had a starting bid of Rs 1 crore when he joined the contest.

Glenn Maxwell, who cautiously returned to professional cricket earlier this year after fracturing his leg at a friend's party last year, was supposed to have the perfect assistance from Jacks, who was acquired by the RCB for a substantial Rs 3.2 crore. Jacks has amassed 2,802 runs from 109 T20 matches, including a century and 23 half-centuries. Also, he has a striking 157.94 strike rate. He has taken 26 wickets in T20.

Jacks missed the remainder of the series earlier this month after suffering a thigh injury while fielding in the second ODI of the series against Bangladesh. Jacks' injury may prevent him from playing in both the IPL and the ICC World Cup, which will be held in India in October and November of this year.

In Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 2, the RCB, led by Faf du Plessis, will begin their IPL campaign this season against the five-time champion Mumbai Indians. After four years, RCB will play at home for the first time.

RCB squad: Faf du Plessis (C), Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dinesh Karthik, Shahbaz Ahmed, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Josh Hazlewood, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Karn Sharma, Siddharth Kaul, David Willey, Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Will Jacks (ruled out), Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav.