Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) slumped to yet another defeat in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), going down to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home on Tuesday. RCB have now lost three of their four games, having only beaten Punjab Kings (PBKS) so far. Against LSG, RCB were bowled out for 153 in 19.4 overs while chasing 182. Barring Virat Kohli, no other batter has managed to give a good account for himself. While analysing the defeat, former SunRisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody highlighted RCB’s achilles heel so far in the season.
Moody feels the lack of role clarity among batters is really hurting RCB, adding that the “chop and change” policy is a cause of concern.
“From a players’ perspective, there is talk about role clarity and it looks like there isn’t any role clarity in RCB. They are still searching for their best combination. It’s like until they start winning a couple of games, they won’t settle on that set batting order,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo.
“They’ve only got one batter in form, that’s Virat Kohli. Faf, Green, Maxwell, and Patidar haven’t found their feet yet and they don’t know what their best lineup and batting order is, which is also disruptive in any team environment,” he added.
Coming back to RCB’s chase, the home side lost the wickets of Kohli, skipper Faf du Plessis and Maxwell in the space of nine deliveries and three runs.
Left-arm spinner Manimaran Siddharth, who came in as impact substitute in place of De Kock, got Kohli as his debut wicket as the star batsman miscued a shot to backward point and walked back after his 22 off 16 balls.
Du Plessis was run out in the next over off a direct throw and three balls later Yadav had Maxwell out caught at mid-on with his searing pace.
Wickets kept tumbling and despite cameos from Rajat Patidar, who made 29, and Mahipal Lomror, who hit 33 off 13, the chase ended tamely.
Earlier, LSG rode on Quinton De Kock’s 56-ball 81 and an unbeaten 40 by Nicholas Pooran to post 181-5 at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
(With AFP Inputs)
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