PBKS vs RCB: Not Virat Kohli's heroics! Ian Bishop credits this thing for RCB's turnaround in IPL 2024

Ian Bishop has opined that RCB's batting combination tweak and revival of their intent has helped them stage a turnaround in IPL 2024. 

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru are looking like a totally different team than it was during the first half of the season. The South Indian franchise is currently on a 3-match winning streak as they defeated the Gujarat Titans twice and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game.

All 3 of those victories were extremely dominating as they played exactly opposite to the way they had played in their initial games. 

Ian Bishop admits RCB's batting order looks much more balanced 

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo recently, Ian Bishop admitted to the fact that the RCB batting order looked far more stable and far more balanced. 

The host had asked Ian Bishop if RCB had done things differently in their batting line-up and if they had found the right balance. 

The former West Indies cricketer responded by saying that he does think that RCB's batting order has got a lot more stable since they have won back-to-back games. Bishop claimed that it all started with the game against Gujarat Titans when RCB chased down a target of 201 within 16 overs en route to Will Jacks' 100* off just 41 deliveries. 

That game also saw Virat Kohli score a fiery 44-ball 70 at a nearly 160 strike rate with Faf du Plessis scoring 24 off 12. Ian Bishop then highlighted the revival of Rajat Patidar's form.

Patidar was very crucial for the RCB during their 2nd IPL 2024 win against Sunrisers Hyderabad as he had scored 50 off just 20. He was adjudged as man of the match and also negotiated well against the spinners.  

Ian Bishop then highlighted Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli's dangerous partnership up top, claiming there might have been a wobble at first but they have actually found something now. 

"I think so. If they've won their last three games on the trot; Will Jacks was brilliant with that 100, Patidar was outstanding in the game against Hyderabad, taking down spin and then you look at the opening partnership in the last game with Faf in particular with Virat. There was a wobble beyond that, but at least they found something that is working for them," Ian Bishop said via ESPNcricinfo. 

Bishop explains how change of intent changed the season for RCB 

Ian Bishop then revealed the thing about intent within the RCB team which had initially gone missing. The legendary commentator disclosed that one of his co-commentators had actually questioned where the attacking intent had gone in Bengaluru in the early phases of IPL 2024. 

Ian Bishop felt that the intent is the main substance that has helped RCB stage a turnaround and that they are not reckless but their intent is clear.  

"And more than anything else and one of my colleagues made a comment about it during the Faf-Kohli partnership. He said, 'Where was this Intent earlier in the season?' I think that's they key substance and ingredient there. The intent with which they have played has been something we saw in Jacks, Patidar and Faf. (They were) Not reckless but Intent," Bishop concluded.