Indian batter Hanuma Vihari has urged the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to pick England fast bowler Josh Tongue at the IPL 2027 auction. Tongue has impressed in the ongoing T20I series against India after making his debut in the second game.
Tongue has scalped six wickets in three matches of the series at an average of 18.33. The right-arm pacer bagged four wickets in the third T20I against the visitors at Trent Bridge, Nottingham and played a key role in skittling out the tourists at 76.
“RCB should definitely take this bowler in the auction next year, and that bowler is Josh Tongue. The reason being there is a slight concern regarding Josh Hazlewood’s availability. There is the World Cup and Ashes next year, so his schedule will be tight, so there is a doubt whether he will be available in the IPL,” Hanuma Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Vihari is impressed with the pace Tongue has been generating in the series against India.
“Josh Tongue has been bowling at 145-plus in the recent series. He has a good height and high-arm release as well. He is a hit-the-deck bowler and will perfectly suit the Chinnaswamy stadium. RCB will definitely have their eyes on Josh Tongue,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Tongue returned with figures of 2-36 in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, on Thursday.
On the other hand, RCB won back-to-back IPL titles after winning the summit clash against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026. RCB were able to come up with a collective effort, and players like Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salam Dar and Josh Hazelwood played a key role in the franchise’s success.
