Royal Challengers Bangalore have had a solid start to the 2021 season of IPL. They have won five out of their first seven games and are currently third on the points table. However, the two games that they have lost have been heavy defeats.
In their last game, the Virat Kohli-led side went down against Punjab Kings by 34 runs. Chasing 180, the powerful batting line-up never took off. After losing Devdutt Padikkal early, Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar just couldn’t force the pace. Patidar, in particular, chewed up quite a few balls and he couldn’t even rotate strike fluently.
Thus, the question came up why not have Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers, two batsmen who’ve been in top form this season. However, Kohli said that it is the composition of the side that allows Patidar to bat at No. 3. Maxwell at No. 4 and de Villiers at No. 5 has been working really well for RCB, and Patidar can control the game.
“The composition of our team is such that someone like Rajat Patidar bats at three. If you see the last game, he controlled the game for us. We give him that freedom to play at No. 3 but sometimes it doesn’t work out.
Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) and AB (AB de Villiers) at 4 and 5 has worked well for us; when there’s a partnership early, one of them will come off. It didn’t work today, but Rajat’s a quality player,”
Virat was quoted saying in the post-match presentation with the host broadcasters.
Maxwell and de Villiers both couldn’t get going in the last game as RCB slumped to a 34-run loss. However, when they walked into bat, the required rate was beyond 12, and it was a mountain too steep to climb even for them.
RCB next play Kolkata Knight Riders on the 3rd of May in Ahmedabad.
