IPL 2021: RCB sign England left-arm pacer George Garton, RR rope in World No 1 T20 bowler

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have signed up Sussex and Southern Brave left-arm pacer George Garton as their final overseas player for the second phase of the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to be played in the UAE from September 19.

Garton, who received a maiden call-up to England's national side for the ODI series against Sri Lanka, didn't get to play a game but his impressive showing for Sussex had some part to play in it. Garton has been in impressive form for his County in the ongoing T20 Blast having picked up nine wickets from six games at 16.66 and an economy of 7.50. 

However, the moment of fame for the 24-year old came in the recently concluded inaugural The Hundred where he picked up 10 wickets in nine matches playing for the eventual champions Southern Brave, where not just with his bowling, Garton impressed one and all with his batting skills too, where he hit the long ball coming in late in the order.

Garton's impressive summer has now continued helping him bag his maiden IPL contract with the Virat Kohli-led RCB as he joins the likes of AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Jamieson, Daniel Christian, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Tim David as the eighth overseas player, replacing Australia's Kane Richardson, who will be unavailable for the UAE leg of the tournament.

Welcome to the team, George! #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #NowAChallenger #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/TL0C8CzjzX

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) August 25, 2021

Meanwhile, not RCB, another franchise that is in the hunt for the replacements are Rajasthan Royals, who will be without their star England trio of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and also Australian pacer Andrew Tye. Royals signed up Glenn Phillips in place of Buttler and now have roped in the No 1 ranked T20I bowler in the world - South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi in place of Tye.

Shamsi, who has been going through probably the best bowling form of his life was expected to be on a few franchises' radar after his fabulous performances in the West Indies and Ireland, single-handedly helping his side win a couple of games.

Shamsi is the Royals' second replacement signing for the remainder of #IPL2021, replacing AJ Tye.

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 25, 2021

The Royals are still looking for a couple more players as replacements of Jofra Archer and potentially Stokes, who has taken some time off the game to focus on his mental well-being.

The UAE leg of the season begins in Dubai with the El Clasico of the league - Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians.