Australian skipper Aaron Finch brutally axed by Royal Challengers Bangalore

He’s been one of Australia’s most prolific short-format batsmen this decade, but even Aaron Finch isn’t immune from being dropped.

Aaron Finch in the IPL.

After a lean patch with the bat, Australian one-day captain Aaron Finch was brutally axed from his Indian Premier League side on Wednesday evening.

Representing the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Finch only passed 20 three times in 11 innings during the T20 tournament.

The 33-year-old has scored 236 runs at 21.45 to date, with a disappointing strike rate of 111.84.

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Ahead of Bangalore’s clash with the Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi, Finch was omitted from the starting XI and replaced by Australian young gun Josh Phillippe.

Aaron Finch in the IPL.

Having not played an IPL match in over a month, Phillippe struck 33 off 24 balls before he was stumped off Indian spinner Rahul Chahar’s bowling in the eighth over.

Mumbai went on to claim a five-wicket victory, chasing the 165-run target with five balls to spare.

Australian paceman James Pattinson struggled to have an impact with the ball, finishing with 0/35 from his three overs.

Meanwhile, Indian superstar Virat Kohli also had an underwhelming game, managing just nine runs from 14 deliveries before he was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah.

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said Philippe would potentially open the innings and take the wicketkeeping gloves for the remainder of the IPL.

“Without doubt, because now that you’ve taken a call in the 12th game … it’s like a line in the sand,” Chopra told ESPN.

“Now that you’ve decided to go in a different direction, just invest in the direction you’ve mapped out for yourself.”

The young buck has taken over the old buck at #RCB
Big call to leave Finch out, but @joshphilippe2 equal to the task. If you are going to win #IPL2020 you have to make tough calls. #MIvsRCB

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) October 29, 2020

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The Royal Challengers — who are coached by former Australian batsman Simon Katich — currently sit in second spot on the IPL ladder, having won seven of their 12 matches to date.

Bangalore will next face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Sharjah on Saturday evening.

On Thursday afternoon, national selectors unveiled the Australian one-day squad to take on India this summer. Phillippe was a notable omission from the 18-player squad.

— with NCA NewsWire