RCB coach Andy Flower fires shots at his own batsmen after RCB face a horrendous start in IPL 2024

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower voiced concern over the team's poor performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. Andy Flower also acknowledged Virat Kohli's exceptional form amidst the team's struggles in the tournament.

Virat Kohli registered one of the slowest centuries in IPL history against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday, April 6. Despite Kohli's century, the Bengaluru-based team suffered an eight-wicket loss in their recent match in the tournament.

The 35-year-old reached the milestone in just 67 deliveries. Kohli ended up scoring 113 runs off 72 balls as RCB posted a total of 183 in their allotted 20 overs. However, criticism arose towards Kohli as the team failed to cross the 200-run mark, despite the possibility of achieving it.

Virat Kohli In Superb Form - Andy Flower

In the post-match press conference, Andy Flower acknowledged his team's challenges and stressed the need for immediate improvement, especially in batting. Flower praised Virat Kohli's outstanding form but voiced concern over the struggles of other players.

"We're one from five and that's not a position any side wants to be. Yes, we do have some issues with our batting. We got Virat in superb form but other guys are struggling for form and confidence. We're trying everything we can to make them feel strong and confident."

"As you've seen in this competition, scores and aggression of teams are only going one way. So the guys need all the form and confidence to put the opposition under pressure. We haven't found that form yet," Flower said.

Despite RCB's recent struggles, Kohli tops the run charts this season with 316 runs from five matches. He achieved his eighth century in tournament history, marking his third IPL century in the last seven matches. Faf du Plessis follows as the second-highest scorer for RCB with 109 runs.

We Do Discuss Strike Rates - Andy Flower

Andy Flower candidly addressed the lack of intent in the batting department, emphasizing the necessity for increased aggression to exert pressure on the opposition. Flower urged the top-order batters to regain their form for the team's success.

"We do discuss strike rates and aggression, it's part of the understanding of the T20 game," said Flower.

"The level of aggression has to be above a certain threshold, and you have to always be putting the opposition under pressure. Certainly taking the aggressive option, especially on pitches like today. It's just a fact that at the moment our top five aren't in sparkling form except Virat".

"It's a tough place to be. It's not from lack of effort, they're working hard, they're giving everything they've got. Just not firing at the moment. If we've got to turn this around, we need them firing."

The Faf du Plessis-led team sits in the bottom eighth place in the 10-team points table, having won just one out of five matches. With only two points from five games, RCB's path to the playoffs seems uncertain. They will face the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their next game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, April 11.

Also read: Michael Clarke rips apart RCB management namedropping Virat Kohli after the latter's 8th IPL ton