MATCH STORY
Follow UsWhat’s the worst thing a cricket writer could do after watching a slug-fest like this? Answer- trying to write about it.
Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 287 in 20 overs on April 15 (Monday). 10 runs more than what they had scored against Mumbai Indians, breaking their own record of second-highest total in T20 history. There was a 41-ball 102. A 31-ball 67. A 17-ball 32* and a 10-ball 37*. RCB used six bowlers, and not one of them conceded below 10 runs per over.
This was crazy.
Not because this was the most devastating batting display ever not because RCB did just RCB things. Not because RCB, who call Chinnaswamy their “fortress” sagged to their third loss in four games, but because in what should otherwise be considered an outlier of a clash seemed perfectly normal. That’s how far RCB have fallen in their IPL saga.
It’s easy to blame it on the small boundaries of Chinnaswamy, but the second introspection begins, just casually calling, “bowling is not our strong suit” would never cut it. You could be bad at bowling, but nothing justifies giving away 14 runs an over for a period of 20 overs. That's not how elite teams in T20 leagues bowl.
When RCB play IPL, it dwindles to a joke. If it were really about cricket, RCB matches wouldn’t have been a full house. RCB wouldn’t have sold the highest number of merchandise, nor would have been the most followed cricket team in the world on social media.
When fans are celebrated for being loyal despite losses, it tends to bring in a weird arbitrage. When fans still pay the highest amount of money than the rest of the country to flock to the stadium day in and day out, without expecting a positive result, uplifting the fortune becomes more of a war cry without any substance.
As Travis Head showcased on Monday night. There was no shortage of theatre from his side. He treated RCB bowlers like some school kids in the nets. Abdul Samad took them on like a road-ragger. Heinrich Klaasen batted like he didn’t know there was an option of not hitting a boundary. All of this could have been negated if RCB ever learned their lessons and tried to pound through, but when issues become systemic, addressing them becomes an impossible proposition.
On the other side are Sunrisers Hyderabad. They are not the fanciest side in the league, but adaptability has often been their biggest calling card. Even though they have had three different coaches in three years now, they have certainly imbibed the right T20 batting philosophy to plot a turnaround. It’s in the knowing that if they can’t have a Jasprit Bumrah or Rashid Khan in their side, better capitalize on it by having a batting order that feasts on runs and doesn’t see any other way around. That’s the way to go.
After the sixth loss in seven matches, RCB’s season is almost over. They still have three more home games to play - and winning them is not just difficult, but certainly seems impossible at the moment, especially because of the kind of bowling attack they have at their disposal. But if this season doesn’t spur a wholesome change, staying in delusion would be their only way to survive.
