Although Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Will Jacks should get all the credit for spearheading RCB’s incredible comeback in the competition, the bowlers’ role in the team’s comeback is equally deserving of recognition. Following their awful showing with the ball in the first half of the season, Mohammed Siraj and company were written off, but they showed incredible bravery and spirit to turn around their rapidly declining fortunes.
The shocking first half
After eight games, seven defeats, and a single victory, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru were in serious trouble and the tournament was turning into a nightmare. This season, it was all too familiar fare for them: a top-heavy hitting lineup that produced regular hits but was unable to sufficiently offset the lackluster bowling team.
RCB had the lowest bowling average (47.5) and lowest bowling strike rate (26.5) of any side in the competition after taking only 34 wickets in their first eight games. Their bowlers weren’t only missing the big hits; they were also incredibly expensive, with an economy of 10.8, which was the lowest in the first half of the league. They were one of the two most costly bowling units at the end of the game and they also let in the most runs on the powerplay.
Siraj was the Challengers’ greatest letdown with the ball throughout this period. Siraj, who was among the greatest with the new ball last season, had totally lost his rhythm and self-assurance this year. In as much as 13 overs during the powerplay, he only managed to claim two wickets and was thoroughly outmatched, giving up 11 runs per over. In the final four overs, Alzarri Joseph—who was brought in as a death overs specialist—was getting crushed. No exceptional spinner was available to select wickets and contain the opposition batsmen in the middle overs, a task Yuzvendra Chahal was excellent at for the Royals over the years.
RCB was having a bad game. From now on, they had to win every game in order to have any hope of qualifying for the postseason.
The stunning fightback
In order to counter the raging SRH opening duo of Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, Will Jacks was handed the first over. He struck quickly, dismissing the Australian for only one. The dangerous Sharma was removed by Yash Dayal in the fourth over. In the following over, Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klaasen were dismissed by slow-arm orthodox Swapnil Singh. In their own home, the RCB had taken four wickets in the powerplay against the most potent batting team in the competition.
It was their best performance in the competition thus far in terms of wickets taken. The first blow was too much for SRH to overcome, as they lost badly by 35 runs. The victory altered RCB in some way. It bolstered their confidence. It set off a domino effect that improved their bowling unit’s overall performance.
In their previous five games, RCB has taken 41 wickets from opponents, which is more than any other side in the tournament during this period. Their strike rate of 14 puts them in the top two, along with the Knight Riders, and their bowling average of 20.5 is the best as well. From 10.8 in the first eight games to merely 8.8 (the second-best behind CSK) in the final five, their economy rate has decreased. As opposed to 4.1 deliveries previously, the RCB bowlers are now giving up a boundary per 5.1 deliveries.
Most wickets in the powerplay
The RCB bowling team has undergone significant change, as seen by their performance in the powerplay over the past five games. In this time span, no side has taken more wickets than RCB, who have 14 in the opening six overs. Surprisingly, with an economy rate of 8.5, just slightly higher than that of SRH (8.3) and CSK (8.4), the RCB bowlers are also among the most restrictive during this period of play.
Although Swapnil Singh has taken the most wickets during the powerplay, Yash Dayal has been the most effective at this stage of the game, giving up only seven wickets per over throughout the previous five innings.
Most cost-effective over the last overs
Their economy in the death overs is another aspect of their bowling that has radically changed over the past five games. With an economy rate of just 8, RCB is the most restrictive bowling unit during this time period in the last four overs. Leading the way in this phase of play is Siraj, who has given up only 51 runs in 7 overs at an amazing economy rate of 7.3. By stifling the run flow in the final 4 overs, he has made up for his lack of wickets in the opening 6 overs!
The RCB may yet be in for their greatest test. On Saturday, they will play their bitter rivals CSK at home in what may end up being a thrilling playoff shootout. If they win, though, it will be the biggest comeback in IPL history for a team! Additionally, the bowlers for the RCB would have contributed to it.
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