IPL 2022: RCB season review
The Royal Challengers Bangalore looked promising on paper, having strengthened both their batting and pace battery at the two-day mega auction in February this year. Despite that, they failed to go all the way in IPL 2022.
While RCB did look somewhat strong in the first half, a string of losses due to underwhelming performances threatened to bring curtains down on their campaign way too early. Without further ado, here’s a look at why Bangalore failed to win their maiden title despite breaking the Eliminator jinx.
IPL 2022: Another year, another heartbreak for RCB
The Royal Challengers Bangalore faced a huge setback when AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of the game in November last year and with batting megastar Virat Kohli relinquishing captaincy, the team management appointed Faf du Plessis as their new captain just two weeks before this season. More importantly, the team had the combination of youth and experience.
Despite having a balanced squad this time around, RCB’s on-field performances were full of ups and downs. The prime reason behind this was overdependence on two players – Dinesh Karthik Wanindu Hasaranga. Apart from these two, Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood were also consistent with Kohli and pacer Mohammed Siraj’s form causing a lot of concern.
At the backend of the league stages, Bangalore had 12 points to their tally with a negative NRR and were on the brink of elimination following a heavy 54-run defeat against PBKS. Nonetheless, they went on to beat table-toppers Gujarat Titans in their final league game by eight wickets to keep their hopes alive.
Their future in the competition relied on the MI vs DC clash and they lived to fight another day courtesy of Mumbai Indians’ five-wicket win over Delhi. Thus, Bangalore set up an Eliminator clash against the Lucknow Super Giants where they posted a mammoth 207/4 courtesy of a blistering 54-ball 112 by Rajat Patidar. Brilliant display at the death by Harshal Patel and Josh Hazlewood helped RCB make the Qualifier 2 with a 14-run win.
RCB then faced a spirited Rajasthan Royals in the virtual semifinal. However, du Plessis & Co. never looked in control right from the beginning and it was courtesy of a crucial 58 from Patidar that got them to 157/8. In reply, opener Jos Buttler’s whirlwind knock of unbeaten 106* runs from 60 deliveries took the game away from them The loss thus, brought curtains down on RCB’s campaign as well as their quest to the win a maiden silverware in the marquee tournament.
