Would Love To See RCB Slot A Match-Winner At Number Three: Ian Bishop

Former West Indian speedster Ian Bishop has called for the Royal Challengers Bangalore to slot a genuine match-winner at number three. Royal Challengers Bangalore have one of the most destructive batting line-ups, boasting of Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, and AB de Villiers. With Kohli likely to open the innings, they have placed makeshift players for the number three spot. Nevertheless, Ian Bishop considers that as a critical spot and would like to see a specialist.

The Royal Challengers Bangalore have arguably looked like the team to beat in IPL 2021, winning four out of five matches. The likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers have delivered match-winning performances in all their winning efforts. Nevertheless, the three-time finalists have not got a permanent number three batsman.

The franchise played Rajat Patidar and Washington Sundar before the ongoing match against Delhi Capitals; however, they have not chipped in with significant performances. But Patidar might have sealed the position, delivering a promising batting performance against the Capitals. He hit 31 off 22 balls, hitting two sixes and shared a 54-run stand with De Villiers after the Royal Challengers lost two early wickets.

It is such a critical position, I want that guy to be a match-winner: Ian Bishop

Ian Bishop mentioned that RCB needs to get their act together and bounce back from the destruction against the Chennai Super Kings in a crucial game against the Capitals. The cricketer-turned-commentator believes that it would be a challenging task as they have to set a total, with the dew factor lingering in Ahmedabad. The 53-year old accepts that the franchise is trying to stretch their batting line-up, making it as deep as possible. Nevertheless, Bishop underlined that apart from Kolkata Knight Riders, all the franchises have an Indian international at number three or a specialist overseas batsman. Hence, the Trinidad and Tobago lad would like to see a genuine match-winner at number three. Having not seen much of Rajat Patidar, he could not comment a lot or have a strong opinion.

“Two things, two points that I would like to say that this is an important game because of the distraction that happened in the last game for the RCB. They need to recover quickly, they’re going to have to be setting a total, there would be due, making it all the more difficult. It’s a significant game and they don’t want too much disruption with their form this season. Deep and I have been discussing about this number three position amongst ourselves. I understand what they are trying to do, stretch that excellence in that batting, I get it, there are a number of ways you can go about doing something. That number three I looked for all the franchises as almost all of them, barring KKR have an Indian international or an overseas specialist. It is such a critical position, I want that guy to be a match-winner. I don’t know enough about Patidar to have a strong opinion of him. But it’s just my personal way that I would love to see a match-winner at number three,” Ian Bishop said as quoted by EPSN Cricinfo.

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