IPL: 4 popular players who never played a single match for Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore, in the 10 seasons of the IPL, have never managed to lift the trophy even once, coming extremely close on three occasions but falling short.

It is rather surprising considering the plethora of talent at their disposal in most of the seasons.

Some truly world-class players have represented RCB in the past, including Chris Gayle, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn.

However, across 10 seasons, there have been numerous great players who were overlooked and as a result never got the chance to represent the franchise.

Here, we look at four players who never played a single game for RCB in the IPL:

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#4 Nathan Bracken

In the early to mid-2000s, Bracken was one of the best bowlers in the world. Blessed with unnerving accuracy, the left-arm seamer was a potent limited overs bowler, as evidenced by his 174 wickets and economy under five in ODIs.

Bracken was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the first two editions of the tournament but did not get the opportunity to play a single game due to injury. Bracken ended up without playing a single IPL game in his career.

#3 Subramaniam Badrinath

Subramaniam Badrinath's final IPL campaign was with RCB

Possibly one of the unluckiest and most underrated cricketers in the IPL, Badrinath represented Chennai Super Kings for six seasons before moving on.

He was picked up by RCB ahead of IPL 2015 but he was never known for his power hitting and hence could never find a spot in the playing XI in a side comprising the likes of Gayle, De Villiers, Kohli, Rossouw, Maddinson etc.

Badrinath did not play a single game that campaign, which also happened to be his final one in the IPL.

#2 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar is India's premium bowler at the moment

Considering RCB's bowling woes, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is one player they would regret letting go of, although to be fair to them, back in 2009 and 2010, he was a relatively unknown figure in Indian circles.

Following a decent campaign in the Ranji Trophy, Bhuvi was signed up by RCB for the second season of IPL, but he had to remain content with watching the action from the sidelines as he did not get a single game under his belt.

It was a similar scenario in the next season as well and he did not feature a single time for the franchise over the course of two editions.

He has since developed into one of the finest new ball bowlers in the world and is an integral part of the Indian side in all formats of the game.

#1 Steve Smith

Steve Smith has played for a few IPL teams

Before Smith became the world beater he is today, in 2010, he was just another Australian all-rounder signed up by an IPL franchise.

The franchise in question happened to be the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who roped in Smith for the third edition of the IPL.

Smith did not feature in a single game for the Bangalore franchise though and moved away at the end of the season, to the Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

He has since represented the likes of Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiant amongst others.

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