Royal Challengers Bangalore are yet to register a win this season in the Indian Premier League. Though they have big names like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, success has been eluding the team.
They started the tournament on a poor note scoring just 70 runs in their first encounter against Chennai Super Kings. They lost their next three matches. Interestingly, if batsmen failed in three games, bowlers faltered in equal number of matches.
This throws a big question on their team combination. No doubt the team lacks quality spinners. Chahal is the only potent weapon in their armoury. It is rather unfortunate that they have rested Chennai-lad Washington Sundar who can contribute both with the bat and ball. Also the think-tank must consider asking Kohli not to open the innings. Rather he should bat at one drop which has been his place in Team India.
Kohli’s boys have had a roller-coaster ride in earlier IPL editions. They finished fifth in 2013, Seventh in 2014, a couple of decent years in 2015 and 2016, followed by eighth in 2017. They finished sixth in 2018 and eighth so far in 2019. A victory would give them the impetus. A series of defeats should not be a blow to Kohli’s confidence. With World Cup in July, Team India needs a mentally and physically fit Kohli. Bigger tests await the champion batsman.