Royal Challengers let go of Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh, the most expensive buy of the last IPL auction, has been released by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Royal Challengers had paid Yuvraj Rs 14 crores ($2.33 million), an amount that consumed a massive share of their auction purse.

Yuvraj was the second-highest run-getter for Royal Challengers with 376 runs at an average of 34 including three fifties. Yuvraj did not bowl much in the tournament, delivering a total of 22.4 overs that fetched him five wickets at an average of 37.40 and an economy rate of 8.25. Despite having a star studded line-up headed by Yuvraj, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, Royal Challengers finished second from the bottom in the points table with five wins and nine defeats.

Yuvraj's purchase attracted a lot of attention considering the franchise had lodged a complaint with the IPL against Kolkata Knight Riders on the bid. Royal Challengers joined the bid at the 3.5-core mark. The bid escalated fast and reached the 10-crore mark. However, there was some confusion as the auctioneer apparently failed to notice the paddle raised by Knight Riders. Although Knight Riders withdrew from the bidding at Rs 13.5-crore mark, Vijay Mallya, Royal Challengers' owner, decided to add another 50 lakhs for the buy.

Later Mallya revealed the reason he was stubborn about bidding for Yuvraj was only because Kohli, the Royal Challengers' captain, had been keen to buy 2011 World Cup's Player of the Tournament.

Although there was no official reaction from the franchise, it is understood that the Royal Challengers have not given up completely on Yuvraj. One of their strategies for the next auction is to release high-value players like Yuvraj, use the money to buy other players and attempt to buy Yuvraj back for a smaller amount.