Shahbaz Ahmed: I never thought RCB would pick me, it was surprising

sha
Shahbaz Ahmed says the people from the association had said that I had a chance in the auction, but I never thought RCB would buy me

In the latest episode of the RCB Podcast, Ahmed admitted that he had no idea the Bengaluru team would make a bid for him during the auction. Hence, after going unsold in the first round of the auction, he turned off the TV.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season will start in a few days. Much like every season, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be attempting to win the championship and end their trophy drought in the competition. 

Shahbaz Ahmed, an all-rounder for RCB, revealed that he hoped to go unsold on the auction day in 2020 while RCB has added some quality players to their squad this season. However, Ahmed was picked up by the then-Virat Kohli-led franchise.

In the latest episode of the RCB Podcast, Ahmed admitted that he had no idea the Bengaluru team would make a bid for him during the auction. Hence, after going unsold in the first round of the auction, he turned off the TV.

“I never thought RCB would pick me, it was surprising. To be honest, I had a shoulder injury at that time. Every cricketer wants to play in IPL, and I was having a good domestic season then. The people from the association had said that I had a chance in the auction, but I never thought RCB would buy me. In fact, I was thinking it would be better if I go unsold because I didn’t want any problems to resurface in the IPL. If I’m not fit, the season would go to waste,”

Ahmed said.

“My teammate Ishan Porel was picked by Punjab first. Next was my turn. On the first attempt, I had gone unsold and I was so happy. I switched off the TV and I felt relieved. But as the auction was coming to end, my friends told me I was picked by RCB. Everyone was still seeing the auction in the dressing room, and everyone was happy,”

said Shahbaz.

Even when Ahmed was picked by RCB, he didn’t have much faith in him, primarily because of his difficulties as a fielder and the fact that Kohli placed a great deal of value on fielding.

“On the inside, though, I thought, ‘oh no, how did this happen’. My biggest fear was I was picked by RCB and Virat Bhai was also the Team India captain at the time. I thought, ‘what will happen to me now’. I was having trouble with fielding and Virat Bhai is very particular about fielding.

“But Covid was the game-changer for me. In a lockdown, I got time to have shoulder surgery. When I joined the team for the first training camp, I was fit,”

the all-rounder asserted.

Comments

0