Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s aggressive batting approach after they suffered a six-wicket loss against Delhi Capitals at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Thursday. 

RCB got off to a blistering start as they raced to 61 runs inside the first four overs but after that, kept losing regular wickets. However, despite losing wickets on a consistent basis, RCB didn’t alter their aggressive batting technique and kept losing more wickets in the process.

Doull reckons a score of 185 would have been par but RCB didn’t re-assessed the conditions after losing quick wickets.

“The batting showed that they did not quite assess it well enough. Looking at the partnership at the back end, you say, would 185 have been enough? It puts more pressure when you are 64-4. Sides want 220, 230, or 240, Hyderabad have been guilty of it. Going so hard, when the surface is only 190 or 200,” Doull said on Cricbuzz.

“You cannot use the excuse time and time again that, ‘That’s the way we want to play’. These guys are getting paid a lot of money, they are professional sportsmen. You have to play the situation of the game, rather than saying, ‘That is the way I want to play’. I’m sorry, but that does not wash with me, and it should not wash with a coach or the management system either,” he added. 

RCB could only manage 163 runs on the board, which was easily chased down by DC after KL Rahul scored an unbeaten 93.

On the other hand, RCB captain Rajat Patidar also admitted they didn’t bat well on a good pitch, and losing quick wickets led to their downfall.

“I think it is the way we saw the wicket. It turned out to be different. We saw it as a good batting wicket. We did not bat well. We batters are in a good frame of mind. But we lacked in assessing the situation and condition. From 84/1 to 90/4 is not on,” Patidar said during the post-match presentation.

RCB will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Sunday.