As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season progresses, the tension is palpable in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp, which is currently grappling with underwhelming performances and an eighth-place standing in the points table. The team’s journey has been a rollercoaster so far, commencing with a defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the tournament opener, followed by a last-over victory against Punjab Kings, championed by Virat Kohli’s exceptional batting display. However, RCB’s hope for consistency was short-lived as they subsequently suffered two more setbacks, leaving fans rife with anticipation and concern.
A conspicuous chasm has emerged in the squad’s batting lineup, with Virat Kohli leading the way having amassed 203 runs in four matches, and the next best contributor, Dinesh Karthik, trailing significantly with just 90 runs despite batting lower down at number seven. This stark discrepancy has subsequently heaped an enormous burden on Kohli’s shoulders – a perspective shared by Steve Smith, the former Australia skipper. Smith points out that key players such as Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis, and Cameron Green have yet to make a substantial impact this season, and he firmly believes it’s high time for the rest of the batters to step up to the plate.
Smith, in his discussion with PTI, went beyond simple acknowledgement of the problem. He underlined the necessity for RCB’s batting order to rally around their mainstay Kohli. “He needs the other key batters to stand up with him, and if they do that, they can turn things around for their season. But, at the moment, they’re not so a lot of pressure is on Virat. I doubt he’d be putting extra pressure on himself. (But) some of the other top-order and middle-order (batters) need to help Virat,” he stressed, signaling an urgent call for a collective effort.
Furthermore, Steve Smith dispelled any criticism that may have arisen regarding Kohli’s strike rate, hailing the former RCB captain’s ability to adapt his game to various conditions. Kohli, according to Smith, possesses an exemplary tactical acumen, knowing precisely when to ramp up his scoring and when to play conservatively, depending on the match situation and pitch conditions.
“Virat is an incredible player. What he does really well, and probably better than most people in the world, is (that) he sums up the conditions and the situation of the game and plays accordingly. If he needs to strike big, he does. If he needs to bring it back a little bit and build some partnerships,” explained Smith, emphasizing Kohli’s match intelligence. He dismissed concerns over strike rate metrics, stating, “You don’t need 180 on every ground; 150-160 might be enough on some grounds. Virat sums up the conditions really well and the situation. I’m not fussed about the strike rate.”
RCB’s trajectory for the remainder of the IPL 2024 hinges on how the rest of the squad responds to this period of adversity. With the stakes rising and the window of opportunity narrowing, the emphasis is squarely on RCB’s batsmen to emerge from Kohli’s shadow and share the load. As the ex-captain continues to illustrate his mettle, the catalyst for a turnaround may just lie in the solidarity and performance of his teammates. The clock is ticking for RCB, and the looming question remains: Can the Royal Challengers’ batting order revitalize their campaign?
