Except for Virat Kohli, who struck two fifties in three matches so far in IPL 2024, others like skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green and Rajat Patidar have not been among runs for RCB.
Head coach Andy Flower acknowledged on Monday that the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s top-order batsmen haven’t quite hit their stride as hoped in IPL 2024. With the exception of Virat Kohli, who has notched up two fifties in three matches, players like skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Rajat Patidar have struggled to make an impact for RCB.
“Our top five batsmen are yet to hit their stride. The Chinnaswamy Stadium offers great opportunities for big scores. Once our key players find their form, I’m confident we’ll see those big totals on the board. I have full faith in our batting lineup,” Flower stated during his pre-match press conference ahead of RCB’s clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.
In recent matches, the pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has provided some assistance to the bowlers, especially in the first innings. Flower anticipates a pitch that retains its character throughout Tuesday’s game. “I expect the pitch to play fairly tomorrow night. We saw a total of 184 being chased down in 17 overs a couple of nights ago. This ground favors big scores, given its smaller dimensions. The ball travels well here,” Flower remarked.
Unlike venues like Chepauk for Chennai Super Kings or Wankhede Stadium for Mumbai Indians, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium hasn’t been the most favorable ground for the Royal Challengers. Of the 84 matches played here, RCB has won 40, lost 41, and had three matches end in no results. Flower is mindful of this statistic.
“We need to strategize when to attack and when to defend. It’s challenging to defend here, especially if dew comes into play. However, we don’t want the toss to dictate the outcome. We aim to be in control of our skills and tactics. That’s crucial for us,” Flower emphasized.
