The problems with RCB batting first in IPL.

With IPL 2020 being one of the most thrilling, we have seen that teams batting first were mostly victorious in the initial games. But as we saw the league go towards the end, the chasing teams were seen to be more successful. Out of the last 10 matches, 8 games saw teams chase down the targets. The reasons for this are basically the change of pitches in the 3 venues, especially in Sharjah, and secondly the dew factor in the later half of the games but the third and most important reason is the lack of character shown by the teams batting first. And the team that was worst hit by this is RCB who have lost all 4 of their last group stage games batting first.

RCB, who were one of the table toppers, have not shown enough INTENT when asked to put into bat. The main reason for this is that the batsmen are going for big shots far too often. The likes of Virat, AB, Padikkal and Morris, who are the integral body of this batting attack, have been looking to cut loose in the middle and slog overs and always fail because of trying to go big. Virat in particular, has got out in his last 4 innings trying to go big and getting out. AB de Villers has got out 3 times until the last innings where he was run out and Morris got out 3 times getting caught trying for the biggie. They have managed to start good partnerships in the middle overs with Kohli, Paddikal and ABD trying to rotate the strike but they haven't been able to build on it and get out by getting caught. The mistake that they should rectify is not hitting fours by keeping the ball low to the ground and finding the gaps.

The batsmen are not being able to split the gaps, go over the inner circle are finding that occasional boundary which helps to keep the innings in check. Virat and his batting brigade are mostly sending the ball straight to the fielders. Almost 75-80 % of the well timed strokes of the RCB batsmen are going to the fielders hands on the bounce. With RCB now qualified for the playoffs and eying their first IPL title, they must find the gaps more often without the risk of getting caught and keeping the run rate healthy from a batting perspective. Because now, the teams bowling second will not get so much help from the conditions, even if they bowl well.

Kohli, in particular, has been scoring runs but hasn't built on his good starts. And the big reason for that is his habit of coming dow the track. Virat has been seen do this far too often and bowlers have found way to respond to this and keep IPL's highest scorer fairly quiet. Virat has to look at stay in the crease and wait for the balls to come to him and play without coming down the track as bowlers see this in advance and vary their lengths and lines, which makes things difficult for the RCB skipper. And with the playoffs, the men in red and gold will want their skipper to go bigger than what he is going at now, knowing the fact that Kohli can find the gaps better than any batsman in the world.

AB, though has not had this problem of his fellow batting partner. He has stayed deep in his crease, waiting for the ball to come, which only explains why his strike rate has been better than Kohli and the best in his team. But he too has gotten out 3 out of his 4 last matches trying to hit out of the park and straight to the fielders. Mr. 360 will want to fix this issue with SRH, one of the best bowling units in IPL as their next opponents.

Morris, who was brought into this squad for their lower order batting to have a big boost, has only delivered on couple of occasions. He also has looked to big, not trying for the fours and get caught on 3 out of his 4 games. These 3 will have to find the gaps more, being the core of their batting attack.

So all in all, what RCB needs more from the batting department is more 4s. If the men in red solve this issue, there is no doubt that they are the team that can go all the way in IPL 13. And with SRH, a team who beat the top 3 teams to come back into the tournament, as their next adversary on the list, they will look to solve this little hiccup to eye their big prize.