Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) season woes continued as they slumped to a 28-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home. Skipper Faf du Plessis expressed strong criticism of his team’s performance, highlighting missed opportunities and a lack of character.
Faf du Plessis blames dropped catches
Faf Du Plessis pinpointed two dropped catches as a major turning point in the match. Both Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran were reprieved early in their innings, going on to score crucial runs for LSG (81 and 40* respectively). The RCB skipper acknowledged the impact of these missed opportunities. He stated in the post-match presentation:
“Yeah. Spot on. Two good players. Quinton de Kock was on 20 or 25 and Nicky P on two and we dropped them. 60-65 extra runs and in IPL, mistakes like these can cost you. Initially, for any young pacer to come through, to face them with a new action, it takes some time for the batters to adjust to see how the ball comes out. I was impressed with his pace. But what’s more impressing is his control of lengths. That’s hard to get with extra pace.”
Mayank Yadav pace creates havoc
Faf du Plessis commended LSG’s young pacer, Mayank Yadav, for his impressive bowling performance. Yadav’s lightning-fast pace and controlled lengths proved to be a challenge for the RCB batsmen, resulting in the key wickets of Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green. Du Plessis praised Yadav’s skill, particularly his ability to adapt to a new bowling action.
Bowling Woes and Batting Concerns
While acknowledging Yadav’s brilliance, Faf Du Plessis wasn’t hesitant to criticize RCB’s bowling attack. He pointed out their struggles in the powerplay, where they conceded too many loose deliveries. Although Glenn Maxwell brought them back into the game with a strong spell, the overall bowling performance left much to be desired.
Lack of Partnerships Haunts RCB
RCB’s batting woes continued, according to Du Plessis. He emphasized the need for strong partnerships to chase down a competitive total. The team’s inability to build partnerships proved detrimental, leading to a disappointing batting display. Du Plessis called for “strong characters” in the dressing room to handle such situations.
“I think we were not good in bowling. We were poor in the powerplay. We gave too many loose balls in their strong areas. Glenn Maxwell brought back really well. In the death overs, we did well to restrict them. But while chasing, you need partnerships. That’s basic. Disappointing that we didn’t get it with the bat and we need some strong characters in the dressing room to chase it down.”
RCB vs RR: Crucial Match Awaits
With a solitary win in four matches, RCB currently languish at the ninth position in the IPL table. Their next challenge is a crucial away fixture against Rajasthan Royals on April 6th.
This match could be a turning point for RCB’s season, providing them with the opportunity to get back on track. However, they’ll need to address their shortcomings in both bowling and batting, and develop the strong character needed to chase down targets and build partnerships, if they want to secure a victory.
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