What is RCB’s problem?What Went Wrong

Turn back the clock. Set it to 12th April 2012, around 7–7:30 PM.

CSK has just gunned down the mammoth total of 205 against RCB. They hammered 43 runs in the last two to clinch the win from the jaws of defeat.And as they should be, RCB are gobsmacked and absolutely distraught.

Fast forward 6 years.

25 April,2018,around 11:30 PM.

CSK has yet again pulled off an absolute blinder as they knocked down 205 against RCB. They needed 45 from the last 3 and RCB, as they have in the past crumbled under the pressure of some brutal hitting. Kohli walks of crestfallen and so does the RCB team.

A Team reflects the personality of its captain. RCB is the last thing which reminds you of Kohli’s personality. They just aren’t learning from their past mistakes.

Two games,6 years apart with a similar script.Bowlers bowled well in the middle overs and then let the game drift away when they needed to hit the final nail. They lack that killer instinct in their bowling.

Old School.

The advent of T20 cricket brought with it two immediate misconclusions

1. Batting heavy sides will dominate the format
2. Spinners are allowed to play the format but they should not take the battering personally. In other words, it’s not spinner’s format.

10 years into the IPL and we have 3 spinners in the top 5 wicket takers list. Teams worldwide have realized that a balanced side is a way to go, irrespective of the format. Or possess a batting line-up which could regularly scale 220, which is impossible.

RCB went that way.And in 2016, they almost proved themselves right. Kohli and de Villiers coasted them through to the final where they lost against a well balanced Sunrisers Hyderabad.After that, it’s been a struggle.

The joke went too far.

You might have heard so often from commentators, “you wake him up at 2 in the morning and he will score century” or

“You wake him up and ask him for a five-for and he will deliver.”

RCB again took it to themselves to prove them correct, literally.

Corey Anderson was lying cozily in his blanket in his home town in Newzealand. The last international game he played was almost a year ago and has played only one first-class game since then. Not in his wildest dream he would have thought that he will be up against a rampaging Dhoni in the death overs. Let alone bowling 4 overs.

What’s the way forward then?

RCB lacks death over specialists and Corey Anderson is not the answer. They can drop him to bring in Woakes, who can bat a bit and also bowl in the death. Yes, he hasn’t been successful either so far but that’s your best bet.Also if available, they can play Southee in place Q de KOCK. It’s a harsh decision but that’s the way forward. Manan Vohra can open the innings with Kohli.

Navdeep Saini, the Delhi bowler was quite impressive in the domestic season. At some point he may get a game aswell.