RCB gets Royal drubbing

Firing in unison, Royal Challengers Bangalore looked like the team to beat after the first couple of matches in the seventh edition of the Indian Premier League. Two losses later, the Virat Kohli-led side paints a less flattering picture.

After posting commanding wins against Delhi Daredevils and holders Mumbai Indians in their first two outings, the Bangalore side looked well in control of its campaign. They lost grip of things during their two-run loss against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, but that loss could be termed as a bad day in office.

Saturday’s humiliating six-wicket loss to Rajasthan Royals, however, was a collective batting failure that exposed RCB’s chinks on an unforgiving evening.

After managing the third lowest total in the cash-rich T20 league — 70 all out in 15 overs — it was going to be an uphill task for the Challengers to defend, given the limited resources in their bowling. Royals finished their innings on 71 for four in 13 overs for their second win, consigning the Bangalore side to their second straight loss.

RCB’s batting line-up, whi­ch has for long been heralded as among the best in the league, crumbled on the day, and it had little to do with Royals’ bowling. With Chris Gayle yet to open for the Challen­gers, the top order had managed to come through unsca­thed in the first few encounters. 

That was until they lost their openers – Parthiv Patel and Yogesh Takawale — in the first over of the innings against the Royals. 

Yuvraj Singh, who has fired in fits and starts, and AB de Villiers too fell in quick succession, leaving RCB stranded on five for four. 

Still, they had skipper Kohli they could bank on, but their go-to guy fell after scoring 21 runs. It may be too early in the day to discuss RCB’s future but the Bangaloreans will have to get their act together soon.