Impossible for RCB to win the IPL with this bowling attack: Michael Vaughan
In a highly anticipated encounter between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), KKR clinched a resounding victory by seven wickets with an impressive 19 balls to spare.
The match saw RCB post a commendable total of 182/6 in their allotted 20 overs, fueled by Virat Kohli’s exceptional unbeaten innings of 83 runs off 59 deliveries. However, KKR displayed dominance in their chase, effortlessly achieving the target at 186/3 in just 16.5 overs. Sunil Narine shone with a remarkable all-round performance, claiming one wicket for 40 runs and smashing 47 runs off only 22 balls, earning him the Player of the Match award.
After Bengaluru’s setback at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, concerns arose regarding RCB’s bowling lineup, with former England captain Michael Vaughan expressing doubts about their prospects in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. This loss marked RCB’s second defeat, dropping them to the sixth position in the points table, accumulating only two points from three matches, despite a recent win over Punjab.
Irfan Pathan echoed the criticism towards RCB’s bowling display
Mohammed Siraj, Alzarri Joseph, and Yash Dayal, key members of Bengaluru’s bowling unit, struggled significantly, conceding high economy rates. Siraj gave away 46 runs in three overs at an alarming economy rate of 15.33, while Joseph leaked 34 runs in just two overs at a staggering economy rate of 17. Dayal also faced challenges, conceding 46 runs in his full quota of four overs at an economy rate of 11.50. Notably, Dagar, Vyshak, and Green stood out as the sole performers for RCB, maintaining an economy rate below ten.
Despite Virat Kohli’s batting brilliance that propelled RCB to a competitive total, KKR’s strong batting partnership featuring Phil Salt and Sunil Narine, along with a crucial contribution from Venkatesh Iyer, ensured their sixth consecutive victory over RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Now going forward, it will be interesting to see how RCB rectifies its bowling mistakes and makes a comeback in the ongoing mega event.