Cricket News: Wayne Parnell to join Royal Challengers Bangalore for remainder of season

Following the withdrawal of Reece Topley from the present Indian Premier League due to injury, Royal Challengers Bangalore have hired South African Wayne Parnell for the remainder of the competition.

Parnell was considered one of the front-runners in the battle to replace Topley, whose position has now been confirmed by the RCB management.

Earlier, during the match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, Sanjay Bangar said that Topley had been ruled out, despite the management's best efforts to keep him.

Parnell is a seasoned T20 player who made his international debut in 2009. Parnell has played 56 T20 matches and taken 59 wickets with a strike rate of 18.5 and an economy of 8.29.

After only two matches, this is RCB's second replacement deal of the season. Earlier, English hitter Will Jacks was forced to withdraw from what would have been his debut IPL competition, and New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell was signed in his place.

Parnell has previously been a member of the Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors India IPL squads, gaining experience in the cash-rich tournament beginning with the third season in 2010 and continuing until 2014.

Similarly, Madhya Pradesh's new batting sensation Rajat Patidar, who had a spectacular year last year, suffered a heal injury before the commencement of the competition and was thus ruled out for the entire season.

While the management first declined to recruit a successor for Patidar, they have finally signed Karnataka's Vyshak Vinay Kumar to take his position. RCB has signed Vinay Kumar for INR 20 lakhs after he had taken 22 wickets in 14 T20s.

After suffering a humbling defeat in their maiden away game against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore will return home on April 10 to face the KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants.

Both RCB and LSG have similar records, having played two matches each and winning and losing one.

Notably, RCB's other international potential Wanindu Hasaranga is due to arrive on April 10, after which a decision on his inclusion in the squad versus LSG will be made.

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