South Africa’s Quinton de Kock has become the first trade of the 2019 IPL with the wicketkeeper-batsman moving to Mumbai Indians after just one season with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Proteas stalwart has transferred to Mumbai Indians in an all-money deal. The South African was brought by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 auctions at a price of $437,000 and as per reports, Mumbai have paid the same price to secure his services for the 2019 edition.
To offset the cost of De Kock’s purchase, Mumbai Indians have released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman along with Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya.
The 25-year-old did not have the best of times with Bangalore in the last IPL where he scored 201 runs in eight matches at a strike-rate of 124.07. De Kock has previously played for the Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad and his overall IPL record stands at 927 runs from 34 innings.
The South African has previously played for the Delhi Daredevils.
The southpaw has managed to register one ton and six half-centuries in his stints so far in the IPL.
IPL franchises have been given a deadline of November 15 to retain and release their players ahead of the auction for next season which is set to take place in December this year.
There still remains uncertainty over the venue for the 2019 edition of the competition with India set to go for general elections next year. When general elections were held in 2014, the tournament was shifted to the UAE. The Gulf country will be in the running once again should the IPL opt for a different venue with South Africa also a possible option.