Image Credit- Abu Dhabi T10
In the IPL auction of the previous year, the Delhi
Capitals and the Rajasthan Royals engaged in a two-way struggle for Rilee
Rossouw. The Capitals emerged victorious. For more than double his base price
of ₹2 crore, they were able to sign the attacking South African hitter for
₹4.60 crore. But Rossouw’s eight-year absence from the IPL did not have the
same effect as he or even DC had anticipated. While 209 runs in 9 games at a
148 strike rate was not awful, it was insufficient to help DC win on a consistent
basis. The Delhi-based team let go of 11 players, including Rossouw, following
their ninth-place showing in the 2023 Indian Premier League after finishing at
No. 5 the previous year.
According to Rossouw, his 2023 has not been
particularly good. The hard-hitting left-hander has experienced difficulty in
most levels, with the exception of the PSL, where he was in primary school.
Nevertheless, it’s not hard to predict that he would be among the sought-after
lots in the December 19 IPL auctions. Rossouw has no doubts either. He really
hopes to witness another bidding battle, perhaps between the DC and the Kolkata
Knight Riders (KKR).
“Don’t have a particular thing in mind. I think
Delhi Capitals was really good to me last year. We had a solid camaraderie
around the team. But in saying that, I did well with the Knights team in the
American League. So it would be nice if it would be a little bit of a bidding
war. I mean, that would be ideal for myself,” Rossouw told Hindustan Times
on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi T10.
Rossouw represented the Los Angeles Knight Riders in
the inaugural edition of the Major League Cricket. And although the Knights
finished last with just 2 points in five matches, their only win came to due a
blistering unbeaten 78 off 38 by Rossouw. “Like at the end of the day,
doesn’t matter who I play for. I want to do well for whichever franchise I’m
picked,” he said.
“I think IPL does everything on a bigger canvas.
Everything’s bigger and better there as they say. It’s just glamorous from the
outside. They spend so much money on marketing, in getting the fans in which is
fantastic to see as a player. The fans love their cricket. So it’s fantastic to
see that and how it’s been consistent over what’s it been like 20 years (16) of
it. So it is probably one of the best leagues,” he added.