News Sports Cricket RCB sign Mayank Dagar from Sunrisers Hyderabad, trade Shahbaz Ahmed ahead of IPL 2024 auction

RCB sign Mayank Dagar from Sunrisers Hyderabad, trade Shahbaz Ahmed ahead of IPL 2024 auction

Ahead of the deadline day to submit lists of released and retained players, Royal Challengers Bangalore have reportedly sealed the signing of a spin all-rounder Mayank Dagar, who cost Sunrisers Hyderabad INR 1.80 crore during the IPL 2023 auction.

Mayank Dagar with Virat Kohli during IPL 2023 Image Source : TWITTER/ VK_EIGHTEENMayank Dagar with Virat Kohli during IPL 2023

With everyone focusing on Hardik Pandya's potential trade to Mumbai Indians, there is a strong surge in IPL transfer activities ahead on D-day on November 26. With all speculations aside, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have signed Mayank Dagar from Sunrisers Hyderabad with Shahbaz Nadeem traded out on Saturday.

Virat Kohli-starrer RCB and their Southern rivals SRH traded Mayank Dagar and Shahbaz Ahmed a day before the deadline to submit the retained players list. Mayank Dagar cost SRH INR 1.8 crore during the IPL 2023 auction but the spin all-rounder from Delhi was not able to make an impact with just one wicket in three games. 

Shahbaz, who made his T20I debut in October 2023, was re-signed by RCB during the IPL 2022 mega auction for INR 2.4 crore. Shahbaz took only one wicket in five innings and scored 42 runs in six innings last season and also struggled to make an impact in the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023.

Royal Challengers Bangalore endured a poor 2023 season with just seven wins in 14 games. They will be looking to start fresh with new head coach Andy Flower and team director Mo Bobat taking the management roles for the upcoming season. Various reports also suggest that the franchise is looking to release the star Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and Indian pacer Harshal Patel ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.

On the other hand, SRH finished the last season at the bottom of the points table with just four wins. Aiden Markram-led franchise will be looking to shore up some funds by releasing deadwood aspects with just INR 6.55 crore left in the purse for next month's player auction in Dubai.

Mayank Dagar to RCB and Shahbaz Ahmed to SRH are the latest transfers in the trade window after Romario Shepherd's move to Mumbai Indians, Devdutt Padikkal to Lucknow Super Giants and Avesh Khan to Rajasthan Royals.