Royal Challengers Bengaluru needed at least 140 from 14 overs to trouble Punjab Kings, but they managed 95/9. Virat Kohli had scored a hundred in a rain-curtailed match against Punjab Kings in 2016, but the right-handed batter managed just 1 run in the latest contest with the same franchise. The visitors registered a 5-wicket win to take their points to 10 from seven matches. Bengaluru kept losing wickets after the toss didn’t go in their favour, and Punjab didn’t commit mistakes like their rivals while chasing 96.
Devdutt Paddikal, who has been magnificent for the franchise at the No.3 slot, was dropped from the team. Devdutt batted aggressively, but the team management gave his position to captain Rajat Patidar, who scored 23 runs off 18 balls. RCB head Andy Flower and skipper Rajat had another chance to amend their mistake, but the two chose to ignore it.
Considering the batting collapse, Padikkal could have been used as an impact player, but Manoj Bhandage was preferred over the senior southpaw. He scored 1 run off 4 balls.
Former India player Mohammad Kaif was surprised to see the blunders of the home team. “Devdutt Padikkal scored a 40 in the previous match and is their in-form batter. He should have been used as an impact player and not Manjot. If you are not keeping him in the Playing XI, at least play him as an impact sub. RCB made a lot of mistakes in the match. Their batters played the wrong shots. It wasn’t RCB’s day,” he said.
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