IPL 2021: 5 players RCB should release ahead of the auction

#3 Dale Steyn (IPL 2019-2020)

Dale Steyn was bullied in his three games at IPL 2020.

After a two-year hiatus from the cash-rich league, Dale Steyn made a comeback as a mid-season replacement signing in 2019. He picked four wickets from two games with the pace and accuracy that he was known for. And suddenly, RCB were optimistic about their pace attack for the next season.

Unfortunately for RCB and Steyn, 2020 was a woeful experience for the pacer. In the first two games, Steyn was taken to the cleaners, particularly by KL Rahul's mauling of RCB in their second game. He returned to play a third game, but was unable to improve his showing. Just one wicket with an economy rate above 11 runs meant Steyn was quickly benched.

The South African pacer announced his unavailability for next season, which should simplify the release decision as he heads into the twilight.

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#2 Umesh Yadav (IPL 2018-2020)

Umesh Yadav returned to expensive ways for RCB after a strong 2018 season.

Umesh Yadav was one of the destroyers-in-chief duiring KKR's humiliating all-pace devouring of RCB for 49 in 2017 - the franchise's decade-defining IPL defeat. He was promptly bought by them next season. He delivered in his first season in red with 20 wickets to his name.

Barring that year, Umesh remained profligate in the runs department, as he conceded runs at 10 an over in 2019, and nearly 12 an over in his two games in 2020. Like Steyn, he too was replaced after the loss against the Kings XI Punjab. He didn't get a game after that as the young pace duo of Siraj and Saini did just enough to retain their place.

Umesh hardly plays for India in the shortest format, and while he could be an important commodity in the auction next season, RCB do not need his services in current form.

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#1 Aaron Finch (IPL 2020)

Aaron Finch couldn't quite replicate his Gujarat Lions form in subsequent seasons.

RCB have tried all sorts of options at the top to partner either Parthiv Patel, Virat Kohli or Devdutt Padikkal. And they decided to allow Aaron Finch to open for yet another franchise in the IPL - his eighth. Though the move looked promising, Finch was quickly outshined by his young opening partner, Padikkal, and was even relegated to the bench at the end of the season.

RCB apparently see value in Moeen Ali as a floating option, and might deploy him in that opening position going forward. Just 268 runs is a poor season tally for an IPL opener.

Although there's still a lot of cricket (and maybe IPL franchises) left in Finch, RCB might continue their overseas opener hunt next year.