Royal Challengers Bangalore have very little time to take the pieces after a weak loss, as they perform much better than their batting unit in a return Indian Premier League match against In-Form Punjab Kings in Mulanpur on Sunday. With the exception of Tim David, RCB was one night to forget the batsmen as they slipped from 95 for nine against PBK in Bengaluru on Friday, lost the match by five wickets. In a rainy 14-over-a-side match, RCB batsmen cut a regrettable figure with the choice of Phil Salat, Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar, and Liam Livingstone, which failed badly in front of their house crowd.
Patidar acknowledged the failure of the batsmen at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“Initially it was pasted and two books, but we could perform better as a batting unit. Partnership is important, we have lost wickets in quick intervals and this is a big lesson for us,” Patidar said after the loss against Punjab Kings.
Come on Sunday, and the RCB, which is ranked fourth in the numeral table, will have a bank on salt and Kohli to provide an explosive start and will have to lend to the middle-order stability on Onas Patidar, Livingstone, Jeetash Sharma, Krunal Pandya and David.
On the bowling front, Josh Hazelwood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will lead the attack, but will require a lot of support from people like Yash Dayal, Krunal and Suyash Sharma.
Despite his third disadvantage at home, Hazelwood demanded to see positivity.
“In the last few days, quite unrealistic programs, well, we are playing again tomorrow. Yes it’s something different and I think the way we went about it (defense of clan) was a positive on the field, taking wickets and putting them under a little pressure and we can take that speed to the next game,” he said.
On the other hand, great guns are going under the leadership of PBK, Shreyas Iyer and currently the table toppers finished second in the standing with five wins in seven matches behind the Delhi Capital.
What is for PBKS this season is their bowling department.
Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen have been fantastic on the speed front, while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has ruled himself by taking important wickets in the middle overs.
Chahal’s attacker bowling has received a rich dividend for PBK, something that team captain Iyer accepted.
“Personally I had a chat with Chahal. I told him that you are a match winner and you need to get as much wickets as possible. You do not need to be safe in your perspective and have the ability to jump back. That is what we appreciate them as a leggie,” said Iyer.
As far as his batting is concerned, the young Priyanus Arya, who had already hit a ton, is expected to make PBK’s innings well with Prabhasimran Singh.
In Iyer, Josh England, Nehal Wadera, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis, PBKS boast of strong middle-order.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Rajat Patidar (C), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salat, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Salaam, Suya Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shephero, Nuvni Chhatikkara, Nuvenous Chhatikara, Swasik Chhati Singh, Mohit Rathi.
Punjab King: Shreyas Iyer (C), Priyash Arya, Prabhasimran Singh (WK), Nehal Vaheerra, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jensen, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Yash Thakur Brar, Azmatullah Omarazai, Josh Azalis, Jewelis, Jeweet, Jewier Bar Vinod, Vishni Hardi, Kulladi, Kulladi, Kulladi Sen, Haranur Singh, Mushir Khan, Payla Avinash.
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