diff --git a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
index 8d735a0d6..4e4291762 100644
--- a/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/download/defaults/main.yml
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ cni_version: "v0.8.5"
 weave_version: 2.5.2
 pod_infra_version: 3.1
 contiv_version: 1.2.1
-cilium_version: "v1.7.1"
+cilium_version: "v1.7.2"
 kube_ovn_version: "v0.6.0"
 kube_router_version: "v0.4.0"
 multus_version: "v3.4.1"
diff --git a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-cr.yml.j2 b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-cr.yml.j2
index 94be6867a..d9481b49f 100644
--- a/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-cr.yml.j2
+++ b/roles/network_plugin/cilium/templates/cilium-cr.yml.j2
@@ -4,13 +4,6 @@ kind: ClusterRole
 metadata:
   name: cilium-operator
 rules:
-- apiGroups:
-  - ""
-  resources:
-  # to get k8s version and status
-  - componentstatuses
-  verbs:
-  - get
 - apiGroups:
   - ""
   resources:
@@ -22,6 +15,14 @@ rules:
   - list
   - watch
   - delete
+- apiGroups:
+  - discovery.k8s.io
+  resources:
+  - endpointslices
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
 - apiGroups:
   - ""
   resources:
@@ -32,6 +33,8 @@ rules:
   # to perform the translation of a CNP that contains `ToGroup` to its endpoints
   - services
   - endpoints
+  # to check apiserver connectivity
+  - namespaces
   verbs:
   - get
   - list
@@ -41,6 +44,8 @@ rules:
   resources:
   - ciliumnetworkpolicies
   - ciliumnetworkpolicies/status
+  - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies
+  - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies/status
   - ciliumendpoints
   - ciliumendpoints/status
   - ciliumnodes
@@ -55,65 +60,72 @@ kind: ClusterRole
 metadata:
   name: cilium
 rules:
-  - apiGroups:
-      - networking.k8s.io
-    resources:
-      - networkpolicies
-    verbs:
-      - get
-      - list
-      - watch
-  - apiGroups:
-      - ""
-    resources:
-      - namespaces
-      - services
-      - nodes
-      - endpoints
-    verbs:
-      - get
-      - list
-      - watch
-  - apiGroups:
-      - ""
-    resources:
-      - pods
-      - nodes
-    verbs:
-      - get
-      - list
-      - watch
-      - update
-  - apiGroups:
-      - ""
-    resources:
-      - nodes
-      - nodes/status
-    verbs:
-      - patch
-  - apiGroups:
-      - apiextensions.k8s.io
-    resources:
-      - ingresses
-      - customresourcedefinitions
-    verbs:
-      - create
-      - get
-      - list
-      - watch
-      - update
-  - apiGroups:
-      - cilium.io
-    resources:
-      - ciliumnetworkpolicies
-      - ciliumnetworkpolicies/status
-      - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies
-      - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies/status
-      - ciliumendpoints
-      - ciliumendpoints/status
-      - ciliumnodes
-      - ciliumnodes/status
-      - ciliumidentities
-      - ciliumidentities/status
-    verbs:
-      - '*'
+- apiGroups:
+  - networking.k8s.io
+  resources:
+  - networkpolicies
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
+- apiGroups:
+  - discovery.k8s.io
+  resources:
+  - endpointslices
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
+- apiGroups:
+  - ""
+  resources:
+  - namespaces
+  - services
+  - nodes
+  - endpoints
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
+- apiGroups:
+  - ""
+  resources:
+  - pods
+  - nodes
+  verbs:
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
+  - update
+- apiGroups:
+  - ""
+  resources:
+  - nodes
+  - nodes/status
+  verbs:
+  - patch
+- apiGroups:
+  - apiextensions.k8s.io
+  resources:
+  - customresourcedefinitions
+  verbs:
+  - create
+  - get
+  - list
+  - watch
+  - update
+- apiGroups:
+  - cilium.io
+  resources:
+  - ciliumnetworkpolicies
+  - ciliumnetworkpolicies/status
+  - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies
+  - ciliumclusterwidenetworkpolicies/status
+  - ciliumendpoints
+  - ciliumendpoints/status
+  - ciliumnodes
+  - ciliumnodes/status
+  - ciliumidentities
+  - ciliumidentities/status
+  verbs:
+  - '*'