‘Chalo kisi ne to sach bola’ – Fans react as Aakash Chopra points out a big flaw in RCB’s batting line-up
In the 54th match of the Indian Premier League 2023, Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 wickets at the Wankhede stadium. Chasing 200 runs, MI batters fired and hammered all RCB bowlers. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Nehal Wadhera led MI to a comfortable victory.
However, after this game, there are many questions about RCB’s chances to qualify for the playoffs. The team failed to hold their nerves while defending 200 runs. Meanwhile, former India opener and famous broadcaster Aakash Chopra slammed RCB’s team management for not grooming any Indian batter. He questioned over dependency of RCB on Virat Kohli, who has scored 7000+ runs in 16 years for the franchise.
Taking on his Twitter Chopra said, “Virat Kohli has scored 7000 runs for RCB. Then there’s not a single Indian batter with 1000 runs. In 16 years. A case of not investing enough in Indian batters except Kohli? Remember…half their games are at The Chinnaswamy….” Notably, Kohli has scored 7000+ runs for RCB in 236 matches. He is the only player to represent a single franchise since 2008.
Their bowling has gone off the boil: Aakash Chopra
Further speaking about the game against Mumbai Indians, Chopra points out that RCB’s bowling let them down at the very wrong time. He said, “While RCB’s over-reliance on KGF hasn’t reduced much, their bowling (which was their strength this season) has gone off the boil a bit. At the wrong time in the season. On the contrary, MI has found some momentum courtesy of their superior batting…(bowling continues to be a worry).”
Notably, MI beat RCB by 6 wickets as Suryakumar Yadav smoked a magnificent half-century. He scored 83 runs off just 35 balls with the help of seven boundaries and six maximums. Apart from him, Nehal Wadhera also scored a half-century. He smacked unbeaten 52 runs off 34 balls with the help of four boundaries and three sixes. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan also scored 42 runs off 21 balls with the help of four boundaries and as many sixes.
Here is how fans react to Aakash Chopra’s comments:
Good point raised. 👍
— Vikas Agarwal (@VikasAgarwalll) May 10, 2023
Empty Stat Pads
— AB (@ArpitBnsl) May 10, 2023
Finally someone spoke the truth, over reliance on one person in a team game will never result in positive results..!!
— Neo ANDERSON (@NeoTheClimber) May 10, 2023
Releasing payers like KL Rahul, Paddikal, Sachin Baby, Vishnu Vinod etc didn't help them.
KL, Paddikal, Sachin Baby, Vishnu all four are good batters. KL obviously biggest mistake.
Manan Vohra is inconsistent, but they could've retained him too.
— Souvik Roy (@souvikroy_SRT) May 10, 2023
My interpretation of your tweet, Cricket is a team game. You cannot afford to be dependent on one individual. Recruit good people and have faith in them, AND draft your strategy for a team.
— Nirmal Shah (@iamnirmalshah) May 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/k_i_n_g_l_i/status/1656164149767057408?s=20
Adamant about not taking in local talent has been their bane. Karnataka is one of the better sides in white ball cricket over the years with a lot of good players and RCB neither bids for them nor play them in the XI
— Sathya (@Sathya_rkoppa) May 10, 2023
Will.make sense if other franchise details are compared.
Intuitively most franchisees, especially without a trophy so far, will have similar numbers.
At most 2-3— Bhupesh (@Bhupsi10) May 10, 2023
Insecurity, what if the other players outplays kohli. For RCB brand value of franchise and brand value of kohli matters, not titles and nothing for Indian 🏏 future
— Ro45🏏 (@iazvenky) May 10, 2023
Their world revolves around Kohli . They never tried to build a team , they always bought 3-4 big guns and thought it would be enough . 2016 all 3-4 of them clicked and they had their best season but it still wasn't enough
— WTF Cricket (@CricketWtf) May 10, 2023
So it’s clear that they won’t win it until they keep Kohli. Just brand value won’t give them 🏆. Need to groom and support Indian talent.
— Rahul Joshi (@rahulrjoshi) May 10, 2023
RCB always seems to look for star players but they would've been better off if they had built a team considering home advantage – 2-3 power hitters – likes of jurel, tilak verma, hangargekar with good economy bowlers.
Also, there is zero long term investment in young players.
— Shubham Phadte (@shubham_rp) May 10, 2023
https://twitter.com/Dhwani_1997/status/1656162178066702336?s=20
