KL Rahul, Parvez Rasool join Royal Challengers Bangalore

Batsman KL Rahul and offspinning allrounder Parvez Rasool will play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2016. The pair had represented Sunrisers Hyderabad in the previous two seasons.

Rahul was picked up for Rs 100 lakhs ($166,000) while Rasool went for Rs 95 lakhs ($158,000) during the 2014 IPL auction. Rahul had an underwhelming 2015 season with Sunrisers, managing only 142 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 112.69. Rasool had got only two games that season.

Rasool had earlier been part of Pune Warriors. He has also played a solitary ODI for India, taking two wickets against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2014. Rahul, who can also keep wickets, returns to Royal Challengers, having played for them in 2013. He, however, scored only 20 runs in five matches.

Vijay Mallya, the owner of Royal Challengers, welcomed Rahul back. "Given his multiple skills, KL Rahul has a lot to offer RCB in terms of batting and wicket keeping," Mallya said. "It's a good feeling to get a prominent local Karnataka boy back home and in the RCB fold again."

Rasool's addition to the roster ensures that the spin department is well stocked with Iqbal Abdulla, Yuzvendra Chahal and Samuel Badree already in the mix.

"Parvez offers us a spinning allrounder option that we were targeting to compliment Chahal and Iqbal," Mallya said. "I hope to see him continue his good form in this forthcoming IPL season."