The captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Faf du Plessis, has openly acknowledged his team’s shortfall in their bowling firepower as a crucial factor in their defeat against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024. The 25th match of the season saw a high-scoring game where RCB set a formidable target of 196, but it was insufficient to withstand the onslaught of the Mumbai Indians, who achieved a comfortable victory by chasing down the total in just 15.3 overs. This marks the fifth loss for the Faf du Plessis-led team this season.
The RCB skipper reflected on the problems plaguing his squad, primarily in the bowling department. He commented, “At the moment, it feels like, from a batting perspective we have to get and try and push for 220 to have a chance. From a bowling perspective, we don’t have as many weapons.” Du Plessis reiterated that the current strength of the team lies in batting, and thus posted scores would play a pivotal role in keeping them competitive.
In the early phase of the match, RCB’s inability to make inroads was blatantly obvious, particularly when Ishan Kishan of the Mumbai Indians went on a relentless hitting spree. Scoring 55 off 25 balls, Kishan, alongside Rohit Sharma’s 15 off 11, propelled MI to an aggressive start, ending the powerplay with a score of 72. Kishan’s dismissal for 69 in the ninth over did little to stall the Mumbai Indians’ momentum as the damage had already been done.
Du Plessis voiced his concerns about the bowling lineup’s lack of early wicket-taking ability. He stated that they need to come up with creative strategies within the squad to take early wickets in the powerplays, to put the opposition under pressure from the onset.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain also pointed out that the evening dew played a significant role in facilitating the run-chase for the opponents. He commended the Mumbai Indians batters for their excellent play but mentioned how the dew made the conditions extremely tough for the bowlers, leading to mistakes such as the bowling of full tosses.
Du Plessis emphasized that the advent of dew at certain venues can have a substantial impact on the game. Despite the challenging conditions, the captain acknowledged that the team had anticipated the effect of the dew and had set a target for themselves accordingly. In hindsight, the actual score RCB achieved of 196 fell short of their assessment of needing 215 to 220.
Additionally, the RCB leader touched upon the importance of creating pressure on the scoreboard in the first innings. He lamented the loss of momentum the team experienced at crucial times due to the fall of wickets, which hindered their ability to set an even more challenging target.
Reflecting on RCB’s performance, it is clear that the team will have to significantly improve its bowling and come up with effective measures to counteract the batting firepower of their opponents. With the tournament proceeding, the RCB will have to strategize and refine their approach, particularly in the bowling department, to stage a turnaround and avoid further setbacks as the season progresses. The team will likely delve into the depth of their squad to find a winning formula or risk bowing out of the IPL 2024 without making a significant impact.
