Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) slumped to another defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, falling at home to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday. RCB have now lost three of their four matches and have only defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) so far. Against LSG, RCB were bowled out for 153 in 19.4 overs while chasing 182. Apart from Virat Kohli, no other batsman has managed to report well. Analyzing the defeat, former SunRisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody highlighted RCB’s Achilles heel so far in the season.
Moody believes that the lack of clarity on the role of batters is really hurting RCB, adding that the “chop and change” policy is a cause for concern.
“From players’ perspective, there is talk about role clarity and it seems like there is no role clarity at RCB. They are still looking for their best combination. It’s like they were winning until they started winning a few matches.” I shouldn’t settle for that fixed batting order,” Moody further said ESPNcricinfo.
“They have only one in-form batsman, that is Virat Kohli. Faf, Green, Maxwell and Patidar have not found their feet yet and they don’t know what their best line-up and batting order is, which is also disruptive in any team environment,” he added to it.
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 an impact replacement in place of De Kock, got Kohli as his debut wicket when the star batsman miscued a shot behind and walked back after his 22 off 16 balls.
Du Plessis was bowled out in the next over on a direct delivery and three balls later Yadav got Maxwell caught at mid-on with his blistering pace.
Wickets continued to tumble 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 from Nicholas Pooran to post 181-5 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
(With AFP inputs)
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