Royal Challengers Bangalore's performance in the IPL 2024 has been extremely disappointing, as they have lost four out of their first five matches under the leadership of Faf du Plessis. Despite star player Virat Kohli being the leading run-scorer in the tournament, the team has suffered heavy defeats due to the lack of contributions from other batsmen and a lack of discipline in their bowling attack. In their most recent loss to the Rajasthan Royals, Kohli once again scored a century, but Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson proved to be too strong for RCB's bowlers. Aakash Chopra, a former Indian cricketer, expressed his thoughts on social media, analysing the key areas where RCB has faltered and their failure to address ongoing issues that have plagued the team.
A change is needed
Chopra expressed his view on the issue of releasing quality spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal and Wanindu Hasaranga, stating that it has been a significant problem for the team. He also mentioned that the franchise should consider moving away from its preferred strategy of playing Kohli alongside three overseas batters.
In a social media post on platform X (formerly called Twitter), Chopra highlighted the series of decisions made by the team. First, they released Chahal to acquire Hasaranga, only to let go of him later in order to invest in uncapped Indian spinners. Chopra emphasised that understanding the persistent weakness in RCB's bowling requires a lengthy evaluation, and the team's efforts to address this issue are yet to be seen. Regarding the batting lineup, Chopra pointed out that the strategy of relying on Kohli and three overseas batters has not been successful for almost two decades. He noted that most teams would have taken a different approach, but RCB has opted for a different path. The post was hashtagged as #MidnightMusings.
Kohli acknowledged that the Jaipur track had a variable pace, making it challenging to play shots. However, Ajay Jadeja, the former India ODI captain, expressed a different view, suggesting that based on Kohli's batting performance, there didn't appear to be any significant difficulties with the pitch.
Kohli showcased his skill by scoring an unbeaten 113 runs off 72 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes. Despite his outstanding innings, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) could only manage a total of 183/3 in their allotted 20 overs. This total was ultimately surpassed by the Rajasthan Royals, with Jos Buttler scoring a century off 58 balls to secure victory with five balls remaining.
A different perspective of Ajay Jadeja
Jadeja, known for his astute cricketing insights, noticed a discrepancy between Kohli's observations and the overall behaviour of the pitch throughout the entire match.
"When Kohli began his innings, it was evident that something extraordinary was about to unfold. He struck a few boundaries early on, and it was clear that we were witnessing a special performance tonight. The only surprising aspect was Kohli's comment about the deliveries not carrying through on this pitch. However, based on his batting display, we didn't see any shortcomings in the pitch," remarked Jadeja, an IPL expert on 'Jio Cinema'.
Following his remarkable achievement of scoring his eighth IPL hundred, Kohli expressed his thoughts on the pitch, stating that it wasn't as straightforward as it appeared from the outside. According to him, although the pitch seemed flat initially, the ball was holding up after pitching, indicating a variation in pace.
"The appearance of the wicket can be deceiving. It gives the impression of being a flat surface, but as the game progresses, you realise that the ball isn't coming onto the bat as expected. It's holding up on the pitch, signifying changes in pace," Kohli shared with the official broadcaster.