IPL 2016: Star-studded RCB need to get their act right with the ball

Batting has never been a problem for the Bangalore franchise in any of the seasons. In this edition too, the RCB batting line up hasn’t been a cause of disappointment.

RCB started their IPL 2016 campaign on a high, demolishing Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling to score a mammoth 227/4 and eventually win the match by 45 runs. Here’s what RCB have managed to do, with the bat, since their grand opener.

# 191/5 against Delhi Daredevils

# 170/7 against Mumbai Indians

# 185/3 against Rising Pune Supergiants

# 180/2 against Gujarat Lions

# 179 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (batting second)

# 185/7 against Kolkata Knight Riders

# chased 190+ against Rising Pune Supergiants

# 175 against Kings XI Punjab

# 151/4 against Mumbai Indians

Out of ten matches, there have been eight instances where RCB have batted first and seven instances where they have scored 170 or more runs on the course. But to everyone’s surprise, they have just four matches and have lost six.

More often than not, RCB have found different villains, from their own ranks, on what seemed to be a perfect ending. In the match against Delhi Daredevils, it was South Africa’s David Wiese who went for runs with an economy of more than 12 an over in his quota of four overs. Against Mumbai Indians, Stuart Binny and Shane Watson’s disappointing run with the ball caused RCB’s second defeat in their third match.

The script did take a turn in their fourth match against Pune as Bangalore clinched victory here by 13 runs.

Next up was Gujarat Lions who made little work of the stiff target set by the RCB. Batting first, they rode on Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 100 to score a decent 180 in their allotted 20 overs. Gujarat batsmen didn’t disappoint their fans as they emerged victorious by 6 wickets, with three balls to spare. Here, the villain of the story turned out to be Bangalore’s Kane Richardosn who leaked runs at a heavy rate.

The match against SRH didn’t turn any fortunes for RCB either. The only difference that came was this time RCB were chasing a target and not defending one. The RCB bowlers again leaked runs as SRH scored a mammoth 194 in 20 overs. Kohli and Co fell short by 15 runs.

The matches between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challenegers Bangalore are always a treat to watch. The on-field drama and the dug out tension takes the contest another level when these two teams are up against each other. Bangalore were batting first this time and not surprising anyone, they again scored big.

RCB gave KKR a target of 186 runs, courtesy to Virat Kohli and KL Rahul’s individual fifties. The situation was under control for RCB till the 16th over. Virat handed the ball to Watson in the 17th over where it all changed.

This over turned the match on its head as Yusuf Pathan took on the Australian all-rounder. Yusuf scored 24 runs of this one and eventually it was RCB who were at the losing end.

Royal Challengers Bangalore did come back against Rising Pune Supergiants as they chased down 192 runs by 7 wickets. Kohli stole the show with his second ton of the season.

Bangalore then played against Kings XI Punjab and in a high voltage drama they registered 1-run win after scoring 175 runs.

In the tenth match RCB didn’t score big for the first time and lost the game by 6 wickets to Mumbai Indians.

The leggie Yuzvendra Chahal on many occasion has kept it tight in the middle overs but the quick bowlers have continued to leak runs. Be it Varun Aaron or Shane Watson or Stuart Binny, RCB’s bowling line up has been a cause of concern for them and the team is struggling to get their act right, with the ball.