Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh reckons bowling has always been Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Achilles Heel in the Indian Premier League and it is once again the case in the ongoing season. RCB’s bowling looked toothless against Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous match.
RCB posted 182 runs on the board but KKR was able to chase down the target in under 17 overs with 19 balls to spare. RCB bowlers conceded 85 runs in the Powerplay overs as Sunil Narine took them to the cleaners and it proved to be the match-defining moment in the game.
Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube Channel, “They repeatedly make mistakes in the team they pick. They invest heavily in batting and that too foreign. They take mighty overseas batters but bowling has always been their weakness. It’s the case now also and it’s evident as well.”
“Whether you bat first or second, you will still have to bat well to get 180, and 180 should be a winning total. Your mindset is that 180 will be chased. How will they be chased? The opposing team will have to score them,” Harbhajan added.
The Turbanator reckons RCB bowlers need to pick up wickets and bowl aggressively rather than try to bowl an economical over.
“If you bowl enough good balls, you will still be able to get those people out. No matter who is playing, whether it’s (Andre) Russell or anyone else batting against you, a good ball is a good ball. The bowlers will have to change their mindset slightly. Try to pick up wickets instead of trying to survive by bowling a decent over,” Harbhajan stated.
The former off-spinner reckons RCB’s leg-spinner Karn Sharma will only grow in confidence after playing consistently.
“So the bowlers will have to take responsibility. Siraj hasn’t looked in great form. He needs to come in form. Along with that, the bowlers around him will have to perform well. Karn Sharma doesn’t play. Karn Sharma will get confidence only if he plays consistently. If he plays one match and doesn’t play the next, he will also feel that he will again be out if he doesn’t do well,” he said.
RCB will take on LSG at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday.
