Follow UsRoyal Challengers Bangalore slumped to their fourth loss in five matches as Rajasthan Royals didn’t have to break a sweat in order to get the better of them in Jaipur on April 6, 2024 (Saturday). While Virat Kohli batted 72 balls to score 113 runs - a strike just a shade over 156, Faf du Plessis batted 33 balls for just 44, with the strike rate hovering around 133.
The lack of aggression from two of the premier batters of the side cost RCB a big total as RR found chasing 184 extremely easy to go by. RCB Head Coach Andy Flower stated that players need to bat above a certain threshold when it comes to strike rate.
"We do discuss strike rates and aggression, it's part of the understanding of the T20 game," Flower said at the post-match press conference.
"The level of aggression has to be above a certain threshold and you have to always be putting the opposition under pressure. Certainly taking the aggressive option, especially on pitches like today.
“It's just a fact that at the moment our top five aren't in sparkling form except Virat. It's a tough place to be. It's not from lack of effort, they're working hard, they're giving everything they've got. Just not firing at the moment. If we've got to turn this around, we need them firing.
"We were a bit light thought, given the base we had, we were about 107/0 in the 12th over, so we should have got upwards of 200 being in that position on a good pitch. But we started well with the ball, Topley and Yash, then Siraj were brilliant upfront but the last over of the powerplay cost us some serious momentum."
With 316 runs from five games, Virat Kohli is sitting at the top of the run-scoring charts whereas other RCB batters have faltered way behind. The second-highest run-scorer in the side, Faf du Plessis has just 109 runs - which has a somber look to the overall narrative. Flower stated that it has now become a confidence issue for the players.
"We're one from five and that's not a position any side wants to be. Yes, we do have some issues with our batting. We got Virat in superb form but other guys are struggling for form and confidence. We're trying everything we can to make them feel strong and confident. As you've seen in this competition, the scores and aggression of teams are only going one way. So the guys need all the form and confidence to put the opposition under pressure. We haven't found that form yet,” Flower added.