IPL 2020: 3 players RCB might release before the IPL auction 

One of the biggest under-achievers in the history of the IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore always tend to offer their fans great hope before the start of any new season. However, they have seldom lived up to the expectations surrounding their team.

The Virat Kohli-led side have failed miserably in the last few years to produce strong enough performances on the field despite featuring some of the best T20 talent in their ranks.

With a new season coming up RCB have completely overhauled their coaching staff, with some new faces joining them behind the scenes. The RCB fans would want to believe that a change in the setup will bring about a change in their team's fortunes.

Ahead of the new season, the Bangalore-based franchise would want to get the right balance in their squad to enhance their chances of winning. To that end, they might consider releasing a few players who do not add a great amount of value to the side right now.

The RCB management will have a task on their hands to identify such players and release them ahead of the auction in December. The franchise will have to finalize the core of the team and build their side around those players for the future.

Here, we take a look at three players who might be released by RCB ahead of the IPL auction:

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#3 Tim Southee

Tim Southee had a tough outing in IPL 2019

IPL 2019 - M: 3, Wickets: 1, Economy: 13.11

One of the leading bowlers for New Zealand in each of the three format, Tim Southee had a below-par outing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2019. As a senior pro in the team, Southee was tasked as a death overs specialist but the New Zealander failed miserably and leaked runs at an economy of over 13.

He could play only three matches in the tournament and was asked to sit out for a majority of the season. Being a swing bowler also didn't help Southee's cause, with the Indian wickets offering nearly no assistance to his style of bowling.

In a match against KKR at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Southee was smacked to all parts of the ground. He conceded 61 in his four overs as RCB lost even after posting 203 runs on the board.

It won't be surprising if Bangalore consider releasing the Kiwi pacer after his horrendous experience in the RCB outfit in 2019.

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#2 Pawan Negi

Pawan Negi

IPL 2019 - M: 7, Wickets: 3, Runs: 9, Economy: 9.13

Pawan Negi was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2019 auction when the franchise used their Right to Match (RTM) card to match the bid of INR 1 crore. However, the left-arm bowling all-rounder didn't offer enough returns in the season.

In his seven appearances in the tournament in 2019, he could just pick three wickets. He didn't get enough opportunities with the bat either to make an impact for his team.

Kohli trusted the spinner to partner Yuzvendra Chahal in the playing XI, but the decision proved to be costly as the 26-year-old faced quite a hammering at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The franchise also failed to utilize his batting potential in the lower order and did very little to justify their decision at the auction table.

RCB might want to reconsider their decision of retaining the prolific all-rounder, and release him ahead of the auction this year.

#1 Heinrich Klaasen

Heinrich Klaasen

IPL 2019 - M: 3, Runs: 9, SR: 90

The South African wicketkeeper-batsman, who is known for his attacking stroke-play, was bought by RCB at his base price of INR 50 lakh in the 2019 auction. After making his debut in 2018 for Rajasthan Royals as a replacement for Steve Smith, Klaasen shifted base to the 'Men in Red' for the next season.

However, he didn't enjoy his time at RCB with merely three appearances in the entire season. With Parthiv Patel having a good run with the bat, Klaasen couldn't showcase his skills as a wicketkeeper either, which made it difficult for him to break into the side solely as a batsman.

At the fag end of the tournament, with nothing to lose, RCB offered him three games, but a no-show with the bat didn't help his cause. In the upcoming auction, the 28-year-old might once again see himself going under the hammer in the auction if RCB decide to release him.