To be honest, Kyle Jamieson is our first choice: Mike Hesson

Ahead of the 2021 IPL auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore let go of as many as 10 players which included the star all-rounder, Chris Morris. The Bengaluru-based franchise had bought the Protea for a big sum of INR 10 crores during the 2020 IPL auction.

Going into the auction, it was certain that RCB would be willing to sign multiple overseas all-round options which also meant buying back Morris for a considerably lesser price tag. On Bold Diaries, a special segment that chronicles behind the scene events at RCB, the franchisee revealed the logic behind going all-out for Jamieson.

“Talking to Virat, Simon, he's (Kyle Jamieson) our first choice but, he comes the third out of (Chris) Morris and Jyhe Richardson,” Mike Hesson had stated before the auction.

“To be honest, because he's our first choice and meant that we're able to get them it's not always going to work out that way so got to decide how far we're going to go,” said Mike Hesson.

“So then, I’m just guessing does it (pushing hard to Chris Morris) in any way influence our auction strategy, if that's the question,” asked Anand Kripalu, Chairman of RCB. “In terms of which we don't go past 10 crores for Morris,” Mike Hesson replied.

Head Coach Simon Katich who had connected virtually, further added, “I say if we don't push Morris to that 10 crore-mark, then they've obviously got a decent amount of money to still get other guys as backups.”

Was buying back Chris Morris on RCB’s auction playbook?

“Yeah, that's fine (pushing for Morris till 9 crores) and then I think if we do that then and we get him then we go okay, we've saved a crore,” RCB’s Director of Cricket Operations added.

“I mean before spoiling somebody else, you got to fix your stuff right. You shouldn't spoil yourself, that's no strategy at all. So, I think we need to be clear what that circuit breaker is and are we comfortable with Morris at 9 crores and then leaving out (Jyhe) Richardson and (Kyle) Jamieson,” Anand Kripalu had remarked before the auction.

Rajasthan Royals acquired Chris Morris for INR 16.25 crores which made him the highest-paid player at the auction. Meanwhile, Kyle Jamieson was sold to the Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 15 crores making him the biggest buy of the club at IPL auctions.