Full Coverage: Indian Premier League 2015
There was a schoolboy message for the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers in that maximum on Monday night. Wavering line and length would be duly punished, in no less than a ruthless fashion.
The home team never quite got the grip of using the dew-soaked ball and in the end that proved to be the Achilles heel as RCB crumbled to an eight-wicket loss.
Although the bowlers were expensive in the opening win against Kolkata Knight Riders, batting second, Chris Gayle covered up with his magical 96. But at the M Chinnaswamy stadium, their shortcomings were laid bare and the absence of pace duo Mitchell Starc and Adam Milne more than evident.
Admitting his bowlers were struggling, RCB skipper Virat Kohli said: "Early wickets are always important in any format. Sometimes guys take a bit of time to get into rhythm. We really don't have regular international bowlers in the first three, who know their lengths straightaway. We need to give these guys a bit more time to hit the right lengths. Someone like Abu (Nechim) and Varun (Aaron) have the ability to hit the right lengths once they get into the groove. Adam Milne coming into the team from the next game onwards hopefully, he is almost 100% fit, will boost the bowling big time."
While Milne will be available for the home contest against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, Starc is yet to recover from a knee niggle he carried from the World Cup. "It will take some time for Mitchell to come back. Right now you have very limited resources," revealed the 27-year-old spunky batsman.
While bowling looked ordinary at best, barring Chris Gayle, Kohli and AB de Villiers the rest of the batsmen, especially the middle order, have been cold at the crease.
"We need to analyze. A few changes here and there in the batting order would be helpful for the guys to find out how they fit into the plan. We need to back guys and give them ample opportunities, but at the same time figure out how much time we have in the tournament," added Kohli.
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