IPL 2019: RCB should be winning matches, yet not winning, feels AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are having a horrid time when it comes to getting going in the IPL 2019 tournament. Apart from one close loss at the hands of Mumbai Indians (MI), they have lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after being bowled out for 70 runs and suffering a massive defeat to SRH by 118 runs. Now with their fourth match scheduled on Tuesday, April 2 in Jaipur against Rajasthan Royals, RCB batsman Ab de Villiers opined about their chances in the tournament.

AB de Villiers had made 70-odd unbeaten runs against Mumbai Indians, when they fell short by 6 runs in a controversial fashion, with Lasith Malinga bowling a no-ball which went unnoticed. De Villiers has not got firing in the remaining two matches which RCB lost heavily and need to beat Rajasthan Royals, who also had a similar start to the tournament, losing their first three matches as well, to stay in the tournament.

De Villiers says preparation has been excellent, and the team feels balanced

Writing his column for the Times of India (TOI), de Villiers shared the feeling he and skipper Virat Kohli had gone sitting in the hotel after the defeat to SRH. De Villiers wrote, “It just so happened that Virat Kohli and I were sitting beside each other on the RCB bus back to the hotel after our emphatic defeat against Sunrisers in Hyderabad. He looked at me. I looked at him. There was nothing to say.

This was not what we expected. We have been together as a squad for more than two weeks now, and we have worked exceptionally hard. Our preparation has been excellent, and the team feels balanced. No question, we should be winning matches. And yet, we are not winning. We’ve played three and lost three, and RCB supporters are rightly concerned by the prospect of another disappointing season.”

De Villiers gave full credit to SRH for their amazing performance as David Warner’s 100*, Jonny Bairstow’s 114 and Mohammad Nabi’s 4/11 completely routed the RCB team who were 30/6 at one point of time chasing 232 runs. “We were humbled in Hyderabad, no question. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner produced an epic opening partnership of 165 runs, starting fast and maintaining the pace for more than 16 overs.

Chasing a target of 231 was always going to be tough, and it became almost impossible as we were reduced to 35 for six by the off-breaks of Mohammad Nabi.” De Villiers wrote in his column.

“Without taking anything away from SRH, the game might have been different if, for example, the ball had looped from the leading edge of Warner’s bat to a fielder instead of a gap,” de Villiers added.

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