IPL 2021: Unlike Last Season, We Have Contributions From Various Batsmen - RCB Batting Coach Sanjay Bangar

Sanjay Bangar, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batting coach, explains the key reason for their better performances and victories this year in the IPL as compared to last season.

Currently, Virat Kohli’s side sits at the third position on the points table with 5 wins in their bag out of 6 matches, and is likely to not qualify in the playoffs – they would also be wishing to finish in the top two, but thinking much about it would be premature as half a season is yet to be played.

While last year, RCB qualified for the playoffs, where they lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Eliminator, there weren’t too many dominating performances from individuals and the team as a whole.

Sanjay Bangar explains the same aspect as he points out that last season the batting was largely dependant on their two pillars: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, and also got support from Devdutt Padikkal, who was playing his first IPL season. Other than that, other batters couldn’t make any notable contributions, with Aaron Finch being a major disappointment.

“Unlike last season, where RCB was dependent a lot on Virat and AB firing all the time with the bat. Maybe Finch wasn’t contributing enough, some other guys who were part of the team were unable to do that. But this season has been pretty good, We have contributions from various batsmen,” Sanjay Bangar was quoted by Sportskeeda as saying.

There are multiple players who on their day can win the match on their own: Sanjay Bangar

RCB changed their batters this year, so did their fortunes. The introduction of Glenn Maxwell at number 4 has done wonders for both the player himself and the side. Maxwell’s inclusion in the middle-order has liberated Kohli to bat as an opener, while it also allowed the management to use the services of de Villiers moreover as a finisher.

Sanjay Bangar also is happy that the trust they showed in Indian batsman, Rajat Patidar at number 3 to tackle the spinners, has paid off as well. The 48-year-old reckons their batting is in a good mould, and all players are capable enough to win games on their day.

“It was Padikkal, or Virat or Maxi or AB or in the last game you saw contribution from Rajat Patidar… how composed he was. From that perspective it augurs really well for the team. There are multiple players who on their day can win the match on their own,” the former India batsman concluded.

RCB will take on KL Rahul’s Punjab Kings on Friday in Ahmedabad; a victory will once again put them to the top of the table.

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