IPL 2018: Parthiv Patel backs RCB's strategy to pack its line-up with power-hitters

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are once again struggling to find the correct combination in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). So far they have won only a couple of games after playing 6 and are currently third from the bottom in the points table. Their issues are not new and have often copped a lot of criticism for packing their top four in the batting line-up with power-hitters. However, their wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has backed their strategy and felt that the best players in the team have to face more balls in T20s.

Parthiv himself hasn’t played a game so far this season after doing so well for his previous franchise Mumbai Indians last year. It seems that the presence of Quinton de Kock in the squad is going against him. The left-hander is known to open the innings and plays really well at the top of the order in terms of picking the gaps in the powerplay overs.

Parthiv praise Mandeep

Parthiv Patel, while speaking to Sportstar, cleared that he feels there is nothing wrong with packing the top four of the batting line-up with the power-hitters. He also believed that the middle and lower order of the team is not at all brittle by giving the example of Mandeep Singh who has been brilliant for them at number 5.

“In T20s, the idea is to give your best player as many scoring opportunities as possible. A lot of teams in fact, have tried to follow RCB’s plan. Mumbai Indians, for instance, opened with Rohit Sharma. Sunrisers Hyderabad had Shikhar (Dhawan) and David Warner at the top followed by Kane Williamson. The other night, Mandeep (Singh) came down the order (against CSK) and played a great knock. So, you can’t say it’s a top-heavy side, credit must be given to the youngsters as well,” he said.

RCB are all set to play their next match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday after which they will be on the road for next few matches.

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