Ian Bishop feels RCB’s optimization of the batting combination and revival of their intent has helped them turn things around in IPL 2024.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru It looks like a completely different team than in the first half of the season. The South Indian franchise is currently on a three-match winning streak as they defeated the Gujarat Titans twice and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game.
All three of these wins were extremely dominant as they played the exact opposite of what they played in their first few games.
Ian Bishop admits RCB’s batting order looks much more balanced
When Ian Bishop recently spoke to ESPNcricinfo, he admitted that RCB’s batting order looked far more stable and balanced.
The host had asked Ian Bishop if RCB had done things differently in their batting line-up and if they had found the right balance.
The former West Indies cricketer replied that according to him, RCB’s batting order has become much more stable since they won two games in a row. Bishop claimed that it all started with the game against Gujarat Titans when RCB chased a target of 201 in 16 overs en route to Will Jacks’ 100* in just 41 deliveries.
In that game, Virat Kohli also scored a fiery 44-ball 70 at a strike rate of nearly 160 with Faf du Plessis scoring 24 off 12. Ian Bishop then highlighted the revival of Rajat Patidar’s form.
Patidar was crucial for RCB in their second IPL 2024 win against Sunrisers Hyderabad as he scored 50 out of just 20. He was named man of the match and also negotiated well against the spinners.
Ian Bishop then highlighted the dangerous partnership between Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli at the top, claiming there may have been problems at first but now they have actually found something.
“I guess so. If they have won their last three games in a row; Will Jacks was brilliant with that 100, Patidar was outstanding in the game against Hyderabad by fending off spin and then look at the opening partnership in the last game. With Faf, especially Virat, there was a wobble beyond that, but at least they found something that works for them,” Ian Bishop said via ESPNcricinfo.
Bishop explains how a change of intention changed the season for RCB
Ian Bishop then revealed the matter of intent within the RCB team that had initially disappeared. The legendary commentator revealed that one of his co-commentators had actually asked where the attacking intent had gone in Bengaluru in the early stages of IPL 2024.
Ian Bishop felt that intent is the most important factor that helped RCB turn things around and that they are not reckless but their intent is clear.
“And more than anything, one of my colleagues made a comment about it during the Faf-Kohli partnership. He said, ‘Where was that intent earlier in the season?’ I think that’s the main substance and ingredient they’ve been playing with, what we’ve seen with Jacks, Patidar and Faf. “They were not reckless, but determined,” Bishop concluded.