What to make of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s mind-numbing performance in the IPL 2024? The franchise won just a solitary game out of their initial eight matches. And then they went on to seal six victories in a row and qualify for the Playoffs. In brief, it was akin to watching a back-marker in Formula 1 suddenly overtaking a string of cars and clinching a podium finish.
So, what is the secret behind RCB’s enhanced horsepower? It certainly can’t be some sorcery, where a magic wand is enough to turn things around. Maybe, the difficult road to Playoffs began during the heartbreaking loss against Kolkata Knight Riders. At 35 for 2, in pursuit of a target of 223, RCB were again in a spot of bother, but they didn’t give up.
First, it was Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar. The duo didn’t just steer the side out of a quagmire but also put them on course for a memorable triumph. Lower down the order, and under pressure, Karn Sharma too cracked sixes. Looking back, that game perhaps served as the essence of RCB’s splendid comeback. After losing that match, the RCB camp perhaps believed, we are close to finding the exit door of the tournament, let’s just play with a nothing-to-lose approach.
Whatever it is, there is a different ring to RCB’s vibrant performance over their last six outings. One of the ways to capsulise their resurgence is zoom in on their superlative fielding efforts. Be it Cameron Green’s athletic effort to run out Axar Patel, Faf du Plessis leaping like a Superman to pouch a chance in the crucial game versus Chennai Super Kings or a couple of bullseye direct-hits from Virat Kohli, the energy levels of the RCB side have been very high. Even their ground fielding has been quite sharp. That is a clear sign of a side that is enjoying its cricket.
Moreover, at the business end of the tournament, RCB have made the right decisions and there is better role clarity as well. Gone are the days of despondently watching RCB making questionable decisions. For instance, in the game against Rajasthan Royals, RCB ended up with the inexperienced Saurav Chauhan in the slog overs, while Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik cooled their heels in the dug-out. The RCB were also not sure of their best bowling combination and the selections were done on an ad-hoc basis.
In the second half, they have effectively employed Swapnil Singh, especially in the Powerplay overs. He hasn’t just bagged vital scalps, but also kept the runs down. His spell of none for 13 from two overs versus CSK might not even be a footnote of a masterpiece on RCB’s thrilling win over CSK. However, in the final analysis, his economical spell played a role. The left-arm spinner even had the enormous joy of bowling to a southpaw – Rachin Ravindra. Swapnil was braced for the challenge as he bowled to his field from round the wicket and kept the southpaw relatively quiet.
Rajat Patidar has also shone brightly. Patidar, who lost his touch in the England Test series, was bereft of confidence in some of the earlier games. He now has five fifties to his name. More importantly, he has aggregated those runs at a strike rate of close to 180. The way he has played a stream of shots while facing the spinners has taken the pressure off the rest of the line-up. He is also a fine player of pace bowling.
Patidar’s temperament has come under scanner in the past, but there is no doubt that he is a game-changer. Similarly, Will Jacks’ power-hitting uplifted the spirits of the camp. His blitz against Gujarat Tians didn’t just power the side past the finish line, but it also boosted their NNR. After a rather disappointing start to the tournament, Cameron Green has reposed the faith in him with his meaty blows and hit-the-deck skills.
We have to also talk about the three musketeers behind the recovery – Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli and Andy Flower. Kohli’s infectious energy with both the willow and on the field have made a substantial difference. On the other hand, during the first few games, du Plessis, the skipper, came under sharp criticism for his lack of smarts.
In the later stages of the league, du Plessis hasn’t just shown better tactical nous, but he has also made key contributions with his fielding and composed a timely fifty in their all-important last game of the league phase. And then there is Flower. In some quarters, he is known as the ‘Qualification Machine’: Basically, the franchise that he coaches either ends up winning the trophy or enters to the Playoffs/last-four. For a part of IPL 2024, it didn’t seem that way, but by now he has settled into his role.
A month ago, RCB qualifying for the last-four was akin to an improbable mission. But when an individual or a team tastes success over a period of time, it breeds confidence. The set of players would now feel as if nothing is impossible. Their next task – nine victories in succession and hoisting the trophy – might feel like another colossal task. Who knows? RCB could very well climb the summit for the first time in the IPL. Even if they don’t, their turnaround has been a stunning one. Moreover, there is no harm in dreaming.
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— RevSportz (@RevSportz) May 19, 2024