IPL 2024: They should chase targets as batting is their strength – Sunil Gavaskar on RCB’s woes

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has advised Royal Challengers Bengaluru to chase down target as batting is their strength. RCB have lost four out of the five matches in the ongoing season as they have got off to a poor start.

The Faf du Plessis-led team suffered their fourth loss of the season against Rajasthan Royals as they were beaten by six wickets. Put into bat, RCB posted a fighting score of 183 runs on the board after Virat Kohli scored a fine knock of 113 runs off 72 balls. However, Kohli could not get the support from the other end as RCB could not accelerate towards the fag end of the innings.

On the other hand, RR chased down the target with relative ease with Jos Buttler scoring his sixth IPL century. Buttler scored an unbeaten knock of 100 runs off just 58 balls whereas Sanju Samson scored 69 off 42 balls. Once again, RCB’s bowling looked toothless as could not create any pressure on the opposition.

“Of course, the toss is not in your control. But at all possible opportunities, they should chase targets as batting is their strong point. I think that will give them a better chance at winning matches,” said Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday, during the cricket talk show, Midwicket Stories.

RCB hasn’t been able to defend their score on three occasions in the ongoing season whereas they were able to chase down successfully against PBKS but floundered against LSG.

Talking about modern-day cricket, Gavaskar highlighted how batters have adopted an aggressive batting approach as conditions have changed.

“Modern cricket is hard but entertaining. These days not many balls are being left and a lot more shots are being played – switch-hits, reverse scoops etc. The concept of taking the shine of balls is not followed as it was the norm in our times,” he said.

Gavaskar, who was the first man to scale 10,000 runs in Test cricket, added that the red-ball version is going to survive with the Big Three (India, Australia, and England) playing five-match Test series whereas other nations playing three-match series.

“Test cricket is not dying, it will survive. Perhaps, three or four nations will play five-match series against each other while the rest will play the three-match series. I think that is going to be the way forward for that format,” Gavaskar noted.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru will next take on Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday.