Former India selector attacks RCB for incompetent bowling unit, foresees demise at Chinnaswamy

Former Indian cricketer and chief selector, Krishnamachari Srikkanth feels that the Royal Challengers Bangalore have an incompetent bowling line-up heading into IPL 2024. Srikkanth claimed that RCB bowlers should be ready to get thrashed in the bowler’s “graveyard”, which is their home ground of M. Chinnaswamy stadium. With a flat batting pitch coupled with short boundaries, the Chinnaswamy is a tailor-made pitch for batting.

Srikkant made this claim while speaking on his latest YouTube video along with analyst Prasanna where both of them were confused about RCB’s strategy to acquire bowlers during the auction last year. Srikkanth claimed that the Faf Du Plessis-led side could be on for some major thrashing in IPL 2024 in which their opening match is against reigning champions Chennai Super Kings.

Srikkanth says RCB bowlers will concede 45 runs regardless of how well they bowl

The former opening batsman agreed with the claim that regardless of how well the RCB bowlers perform, they are going to be touted to concede nothing less than 45 runs in the batting deck at Chinnaswamy. Over the years, we have seen some high-scoring contests at the venue which has a seating capacity of over 35,000.

From all the matches that have been played over there, teams batting second have mostly come out on top as the wicket gets easier to bat on in the 2nd innings. And if there is any trace of dew whatsoever, forget about defending even a 180+ total.

The highest-ever total chased at the Chinnaswamy is 186 while the average 1st innings score stands at below 170 and in the range of 160s. With all that in mind, Srikkanth and Prasanna are in anticipation that RCB bowlers are going to concede a lot of runs.

“Chinnaswamy stadium is such a graveyard (for bowlers) that sometimes even if you bowl extremely well, you will concede 45 runs in four overs. Then you can imagine how much the other bowlers will concede,” Prasnna told Srikkanth.

RCB in their second season under Faf Du Plessis’ captaincy had finished 6th in the points table as they remained 2 points off qualification for the playoffs. They collected 14 points from all 14 matches, winning as well as losing 7 matches each. This season will be Du Plessis’ 3rd year as the captain and this time around he will be hoping for nothing less than helping his side take all the way to the finals.

The South-Indian outfit are only the 3rd team along with Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals to have never won the IPL title in their history. If they will be able to finally win the elusive title is something that remains to be seen. After their opening match on the opening day against CSK, the outfit will take on Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Rajasthan Royals.

RCB full squad for IPL 2024