Royal Challengers Bangalore have signed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Finn Allen as a replacement for Australia’s Josh Philippe, who, according to a franchise release will be unavailable for the entire season.
Philippe had an underwhelming start to his IPL career, making his debut for RCB in 2020. He played five games, scoring just 78 runs. Allen, 21, turned heads in this season’s Super Smash, topping the charts with 512 runs at a strike-rate of 194 including 25 sixes for the title-winners Wellington Firebirds.
He has been acquired for a base price of INR 20L, the same as that of Philippe, in what will be his maiden IPL season.
The reason for Philippe’s absence, however, is not clear. The wicketkeeper, in the recently concluded T20I series against New Zealand, had two 40-plus scores.
