Former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s batters despite their two-wicket win against Mumbai Indians at Raipur on Sunday. Khan highlighted that RCB batters must bat with responsibility in the rest of the matches.
Barring Krunal Pandya, none of the RCB batters could show much resistance in the run chase of 167. Pandya scored a match-winning knock of 73 runs off 46 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes as he batted at the top of his game.
Khan noted that the form of Jacob Bethell and Jitesh Sharma is a concern for the franchise. Bethell was dismissed after scoring a run-a-ball 27 whereas Sharma scored 18 runs off 12 balls against MI.
“RCB’s headache is not who should bat higher – Rasikh or Bhuvi. The problem is that in such a situation, only Krunal was handling the team. So, Jitesh will have to take up some responsibility, Jacob Bethell is also not contributing at the top as he should, and if Rajat Patidar also does not fire, then this team can be under pressure. Their issues have been highlighted in the open,” Zaheer Khan said on Cricbuzz.
On the other hand, former Indian pacer Mohit Sharma also concurred with Zaheer Khan, stating that Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam’s batting should not have come.
“Rasikh and Bhuvi’s batting should not have come only, it should not have reached that state for RCB. Their batting should not have been a topic of conversation,” he opined.
The former Indian pacer Khan said there was panic in RCB’s dugout when they were under the cosh against MI.
“Imagine if the result had not gone in their favor, what would have happened? Both CSK and RCB would have been on 12 points, there would have been other teams on 12 points as well. RCB would have been involved in the mid-table muddle. Now that they have won the match, they are at the top of the table, which is the level of difference. Today, if you see their dugout, that was a panic mode dugout,” Zaheer Khan said.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at Raipur on Wednesday.
