RCB have not utilized their resources well in IPL 2022: Nikhil Chopra

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have seven wins in 13 league matches and have been average with their performance in IPL 2022. Currently, they are facing Gujarat Titans (GT) in their must-win fixture at Wankhede Stadium. Ahead of this contest, former Indian cricketers Nikhil Chopra and Wasim Jaffer discussed the form of RCB.

Chopra thinks the openers of RCB have not done well in this season in terms of providing the flourish in the first six overs, which has put pressure on the middle-order. He added that the wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has been terrific to do well at the end, which has proved helpful for the team. However, he ended by saying that, so far RCB have not utilized their resources well in this season.

“The first six overs certainly set a tone for any team. With the fielding restrictions getting eased, the fielders are ready at the boundary, and if you don’t time the ball well, you get dismissed. This is why there has been a lot of pressure in the middle order, and Dinesh Karthik has bailed you out of jail on many occasions. With the prowess that RCB has, they have not utilized their resources to the best of their abilities, otherwise, they would have done well in the first six overs,” said Chopra on Sky247.net presents ‘Not Just Cricket’ Show on CricTracker.

Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli need to provide the base for the team: Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer thinks, in a crucial last fixture for RCB, the key players like Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli need to play the bulk of the overs, which would provide the base for the team. He thinks that throughout the season, the Royal Challengers have lost wickets in the powerplay overs, which has hurt their chances. Jaffer further added that the middle-order of the team needs to play fearless cricket to win the match. Meanwhile, Titans have scored 168/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

“In a big match like this one, the players like Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli have to contribute in a hefty manner. In this season, their main problem has been losing a couple of wickets in the powerplay overs and having less strike rate from the seventh over to the 15th over. Certainly, both Faf and Kohli need to provide base to the team, and the subsequent batters need to play fearless cricket,” said Jaffer.