In an unexpected turn of events, star batsman Virat Kohli was spotted practicing his bowling during the warm-up session before the toss between KKR and RCB on Sunday, April 21st.
Kohli, known for his superlative batting, was seen bowling his usual medium pace with a short run-up. In a video shared by a fan, present at the Eden Gardens, Kohli was seen having a go at the practice stumps in RCB’s training kit.
This has raised eyebrows amongst fans, especially considering RCB’s woeful bowling performances throughout IPL 2024.
RCB’s poor bowling – A major cause of concern
RCB’s bowling unit has been a major cause for concern this season. They boast the worst bowling average (49.8) and strike rate (27.9) in the league. Their struggles in the powerplay have been particularly damaging, leaking runs at an alarming rate (economy of 10.5). The spin attack, often a strength for RCB, hasn’t fared much better, with the second-lowest wicket tally (7) and a high economy rate (10.5).
With their primary bowlers failing to deliver, Kohli’s bowling practice can be interpreted in two ways. It could be a simple case of a batsman trying to loosen up his arm before a crucial match. However, given RCB’s bowling woes, it’s hard not to see it as a sign of desperation from the team management.