Virender Sehwag, the former India cricketer, didn’t hold back as he lashed out at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for their careless and reckless batting performance against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 18 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. In Sehwag’s Bold Statement, he expressed strong disapproval of the team’s approach, highlighting how RCB’s batters gifted away their wickets due to poor shot selection and lack of discipline. The crushing defeat marked RCB’s third consecutive loss at home, and Sehwag’s Bold Statement made it clear that he held the batters accountable for failing to play responsibly in a must-win clash.
RCB Batters Fail Miserably in Chase Against Punjab Kings – Sehwag’s Bold Statement
Sehwag’s Bold Statement came after RCB, put to bat, struggled right from the start. The match was reduced to 14 overs per side due to rain, and PBKS opted to field, as chasing in Bengaluru is generally easier. RCB’s batting collapse began early when opener Phil Salt was dismissed on just the fourth ball of the match. Virat Kohli soon followed, sending the team into further trouble with cheap dismissals.
The wickets kept tumbling, and more than half of RCB’s total came from Tim David, who managed to score 50 runs off 26 balls. Sehwag’s bold statement criticized RCB’s approach, saying, “RCB batted poorly. All of them played reckless shots to get out. Not a single batter was out to a good ball. At least one batter should’ve used common sense.” He added that if RCB had held onto their wickets, they could have reached a target of 110 or 120, giving them a chance to fight back in the game
RCB’s total of 95/9 was far from competitive, and PBKS easily chased down the target despite facing a bit of difficulty due to the rain-affected pitch. Nehal Wadhera played a calm innings, finishing with 33* off 19 balls, guiding PBKS to a comfortable win. RCB’s bowlers, Josh Hazlewood (3/14) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/26), tried their best to keep the opposition in check, but the small target proved insufficient for a real challenge.
Sehwag’s Bold Statement didn’t stop at pointing out the poor batting display but also questioned RCB’s leadership under Rajat Patidar. Despite the team’s solid bowling performance, the batting consistently falters, especially at home, and Sehwag emphasized the need for Patidar to come up with a solution. He pointed out that RCB’s historically poor home record, with the loss against PBKS being their 46th at the venue, cannot continue.
“Patidar has to think and come up with a solution. They have not been winning at home. Their bowlers are doing well, but why are their batters faltering regularly?” Sehwag said. “It’s not alright if your batters continuously fail at home. Who is going to rectify that?”
RCB’s loss to Punjab Kings leaves them with a lot of questions to answer. Sehwag’s bold statement about their inconsistent performance has only intensified the spotlight. They now need to look into their batting approach, especially in home games, where they have been underperforming for years. With the leadership of Rajat Patidar under scrutiny, RCB’s next match will be crucial in turning their home fortunes around.
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