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As the excitement builds up ahead of the IPL 2024 auction, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has set the stage by revealing their retained and released players, a move that has triggered considerable intrigue among fans and pundits alike. Notably, the name of seasoned Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and the talented Sri Lankan spin maestro Wanindu Hasaranga in the released players’ list has become a focal point of discussions.
Following the development, South African legend AB de Villiers shared his viewpoint on the team’s bowling dynamics. Known for his astute cricketing acumen, the stalwart shed light on the various facets of RCB’s bowling arsenal, offering a glimpse into the team’s strategic considerations.
‘It is the area where I would be worried’: AB de Villiers on RCB’s bowling
De Villiers expressed concern about the released players’ affect on the balance of the RCB bowling lineup. Noting the departures of Hasaranga, Harshal Patel and Hazlewood, the Pretoria-born cricketer highlighted their significant contributions to winning games for the team. He particularly emphasized Hazlewood’s ability to control the bowling lineup and expressed worry about the potential impact of these decampings on the Faf Du Plessis-led side‘s bowling strength.
“It is the area where I would be worried. Obviously, there is Mohammed Siraj there, Reece Topley, and some experience there, but if you see the released players list, they let go of Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, and Josh Hazlewood. Those three have won them a lot of games in the last couple of seasons, especially Hazlewood; he had just this way of controlling that bowling lineup,” De Villiers opined in his latest YouTube video.
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‘RCB’s bowling has been an area of weakness over the years’: De Villiers
De Villiers further acknowledged the historical weakness in RCB’s bowling department and stressed on the importance of team cohesion, pointing out a tendency to make mistakes, lack discipline, and falter in basic execution under pressure. He also highlighted the challenging nature of bowling at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“It has been a well-known fact that RCB’s bowling has been an area of weakness over the years. Yes, the batters also made a mess at times, but you need to play as a team. You need to gel together and understand each other. More often than not, there has been this feeling of making silly mistakes, not getting the discipline right, and not doing the basics well under pressure. We know how difficult it is to bowl at the Chinnaswamy Stadium,” the 39-year-old added to his comments.
