IPL 2018: Five Reasons Why RCB is Not Winning Under Virat Kohli's Captaincy

There is a saying in cricket which goes, “Batsmen win you games while the bowlers win you the tournaments”.

Unfortunately, RCB’s bowlers are themselves to be blamed in this ongoing season.

Royal Challengers Bangalore has had a dreadful start to the 11th season of the Indian Premier League. Virat Kohli-led team has won two matches out of the seven to find themselves at the bottom half of the points tables.

Meanwhile, it is also surprising to note that Virat Kohli who leads the Indian national team with great success hasn’t been able to repeat the same performance as a leader in the T20 league.

But at the same time, it should also be noted that cricket is a team sport.

Here we look at the possible five reasons why RCB is not able to do well under the leadership of Virat Kohli.

5. Poor bowling performance.

There is no iota of doubt that RCB has been led down by their bowling performance. RCB bowlers haven’t been able to deliver the goods, especially in the death overs. RCB bowlers have bowled well in patches but have failed to hit the ground running.

Umesh Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have done a good job in some matches, but other bowlers haven’t turned up.

Moreover, there is also the lack of experience in the pace battery which has made Kohli’s job more difficult.

Quick read: IPL 2018: How Can Royal Challengers Bangalore Qualify for the Playoffs?

4. Over-reliance on Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers

Over the years, the onus has always been on Virat Kohli and talismanic batsman Ab de Villiers. Knowing these two are the batting mainstay in modern-day cricket, they are expected to lead the side out of trouble every time they come out to bat. And perhaps, that has been their only problem.

On the given day, if the pair fails to step up, the rest of the lineup looks unsettle to take the team home.

So, maybe the top-order and lower-order have to shoulder the responsibility if RCB wishes to turn the tables around in the games to follow.

Virat Kohli with Quinton de Kock. Photo by: Vipin Pawar /SPORTZPICS for BCCI.

3. Poor Selection by the team management

RCB has also failed to take the right selection decisions more often. They should have strengthened their bowling line-up by including the likes of Tim Southee much earlier. However, Kiwi bowler finally got a chance in the last match.

Mohammed Siraj kept getting picked despite being expensive. RCB think tank could have gone with Navdeep Saini who had impressed while playing for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.

Moreover, the young players like Sarfaraz Khan, Pawan Negi, Washington Sundar and Manan Vohra have failed to grab the opportunities.

Also read: IPL 2018: If We Field Like That, We Don’t Deserve To Win: Virat Kohli

2. Insipid Fielding

They say “Catches win you matches”. But RCB fielders haven’t taken this proverb seriously. Fielding is imperative in the shortest format of the game.

The fielders haven’t back the bowlers who had further rubbed salt on their bowling wounds.

Umesh Yadav dropped Ambati Rayudu while Murugan Ashwin put down Chris Lynn. Both of these dropped catches proved costly for the RCB, as both Rayudu and Lynn went on to win the match for their respective teams.

1. Peculiar decision making by Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli is known to back himself with his decisions. However, the RCB skipper had missed a trick while leading the Bangalore franchise.

Kohli bowled Corey Anderson in the final overs against CSK who was predictable with his line.

Surprisingly, Virat Kohli utilised all his premier bowlers before the death overs against Chennai Super Kings.

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