NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders' victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League 2024 clash on Friday was nothing short of impressive, as they registered a commanding seven-wicket win.
Led by explosive performances from Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine, KKR chased down the 183-run target set by RCB with ease, showcasing their prowess in the tournament.
The scintillating batting display from KKR made them the first team to win away from home in this IPL season. However, amidst KKR's triumph, concerns were raised about RCB's lackluster bowling performance.
Former cricketers, including former England captain Michael Vaughan, weighed in on RCB's bowling attack, expressing skepticism about their chances in the tournament.
Vaughan suggested that RCB's current bowling lineup might pose challenges to their title aspirations in the IPL, highlighting the need for improvement in their bowling department.
"Impossible for @RCBTweets to win the IPL with this bowling attack," Vaughan remarked on social media.
Echoing similar sentiments, former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody urged RCB to strengthen their bowling unit by utilizing two overseas pacers to enhance their chances of success.
"#RCB have no choice but to play two overseas specialist pace bowlers. #Ferguson and #Topley must start," Moody emphasized.
India's former bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan also criticized RCB's bowling strategy, particularly questioning the decision not to utilize all-rounder Glenn Maxwell's bowling capabilities against KKR.
"Faf should have bowled Maxwell in the power play. KKR did bowl Anukul in the power play which worked in a way of economy," Pathan remarked.
With RCB's bowling issues under scrutiny, the team finds itself in a precarious position in the IPL 2024 table, slipping to sixth place after the defeat against KKR.
As they prepare to face Lucknow Super Giants in their next match on April 2, RCB will be aiming to address their bowling concerns and stage a comeback in the tournament.
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