We are certainly open to it: Mike Hesson on loaning players mid-season in the IPL

The Dream 11 IPL is all set to bring back the mid-season transfer window first trialed in the 2019 edition of the tournament. The transfer window originally allowed the transfer of players at the halfway point within a span of five days, allowed for only uncapped players who have played less than two games in the season to be eligible for a transfer. However, this season the window allows for capped players - Indian and overseas - to be traded.

RCB’s Director of cricket operations, Mike Hesson, has now said that he would certainly be open to the possibility of taking advantage of such an option. "Look if needs must, later on, we are certainly open to it," Mike Hesson said at a virtual media conference on Wednesday. We've got a small squad and we've done that for a reason. If something [injuries] was to occur, we'd certainly look at that."

"You, however, need both teams to buy into any potential loan. So you need to make sure the other side is happy with the loan and think they'll get benefit from it later on in the tournament as well. So it's not a matter of identifying someone you want, they also have to be allowed to be released as well,” added Hesson.

RCB have opted for a relatively smaller squad size compared to previous seasons, with only 21 players making the trip to UAE. For a team like RCB with a smaller contingent, the ability to loan players could come in handy in case of injuries at a time when flowing in a replacement would mean having to account for the quarantine period as well. Hesson was well aware of the possibilities, as he explained, "It will come in at some stage due to the fact that it's hard to get potential replacements," Hesson explained. 

"We are very comfortable with the squad we have, but if we get injuries or so forth then loan opportunities could become an option. It's certainly something that BCCI are well aware [of] as well.”