Way forward for RCB

RCB's 2023 season has started on a bittersweet note. The men in red won their first game, but lost the next 2 games against Kolkata and Lucknow, leaving them stranded at position 7 in the points table. In both games, they were in a commanding position but ended up on the wrong side of the result. With positives and negatives in their performances, the way towards the cup for Bangalore looks simple but not easy.

Shortcomings:

Death by death bowling: The problem which has haunted RCB for many seasons has come back to haunt them. In all three games, Bangalore has given 70 runs against MI, 64 runs against KKR and 69 against LSG. 2021 purple cap holder Harshal Patel has leaked majority of these runs, giving full tosses and erratic balls to the batters. The absence of Reece Topley and Aussie pacer Josh Hazlewood has left RCB's death bowling department vulnerable, like 2015 and 2016, increasing pressure on the batters.

Injury and unavailability woes: The injury and loss of key players like Reece Topley, who had a great first game, rising star Rajat Patidar and last season's leading wicket taker, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Englishman Will Jacks, can be seen as a major concern for the Bangalore boys. Although, Wayne Parnell joining the squad has given them good hope, as his performance in the last game was proof that he will be a key bowler in the line-up. The return of Hasaranga will not only give them better spin overs, but more oomph in the batting line-up.

Opener's middle over woes: The least of RCB's problems right now is the batting. Captain Faf du Plessis and former captain and star batter Virat Kohli have given RCB electrifying start, becoming their top 2 run getters in this edition. But after good powerplay, their scoring rate comes down in the middle overs, especially against spinners. The two have made a 100 and a 50-run partnership and a 40-run stand in the first three games, but as soon as the spinners are brought on, they're on the back foot as they both struggle against spinners. The skipper got off to a very slow start in the last game, scoring 33 off 30 balls. But Virat has been comparatively more solid, even though his strike rate against spinners is not so much higher. The two, still have accumulated runs at a healthy strike rates as they make it up in the end. Faf is at a 173 while Kohli is at 147 in the 3 games that they have played. But they would want to keep this strike rate going consistently in the middle overs, and against the spinners.

Positives:

Incredible batting prowess: Kohli, FDP, Maxwell have been scoring runs and giving the men in red and black big scores. Maxwell marked his return to form in the last game with 29 ball 59, and Kohli and Du Plessis have scored 2 fifties in the three games. With DK, Shahbaaz still to come, the batting is once again RCB's strong point, which should serve them well on the Chinnaswamy surface, which has always been a belter.

Powerplay striking: RCB's bowling may be weak at the end, but they give good starts to the team in the powerplay. Mohammad Siraj has been leading the pace attack well, taking 2 wickets in the last game and a wicket in the first game within the first 6 overs. RCB has also managed to keep their opponents under wraps in the start, conceding less than a run a ball. Good starts have been RCB's biggest strong point throughout the recent years.