RCB skipper Rajat Patidar lauds his bowlers after victory over LSG, says bowling was fantastic

Skipper Rajat Patidar lauded the exceptional performance of his bowlers following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) commanding victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Patidar emphasized that winning the toss played a crucial role in setting the tone for the match, allowing the pacers to consistently trouble the LSG batsmen.

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It was fantastic (bowling). I think the good thing was that we won the toss. And the way the fast bowlers hit the deck was nice to watch. I don't know what he's (Krunal Pandya) going to bowl next, but I would say he's a very courageous bowler. And at the same time, Suyesh's stump-to-stump bowling was tremendous to watch.

"It was fantastic (bowling). I think the good thing was that we won the toss. And the way the fast bowlers hit the deck was nice to watch," Patidar stated in the post-match press conference. He specifically praised the unpredictable yet courageous approach of Krunal Pandya, and highlighted Suyash Sharma's impressive stump-to-stump bowling. The RCB captain also acknowledged the invaluable experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood as a new-ball pair, noting how their expertise simplifies a captain's decisions and benefits the entire bowling unit.

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Of course, for a captain, if you have specialist bowlers in T20 leagues, it makes the job easier because you don't have to tell them what to do next. The experience and ideas are helping all the other bowlers as well.

The team's improved fielding standards were also a point of praise, with Patidar citing a sharp catch by Phil Salt as an example of the squad's consistent focus on fielding intensity throughout the season. This all-around performance, from bowling to fielding, was instrumental in restricting LSG to a modest total.

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The team has been working on fielding intensity since the start of the IPL. That was followed by Phil Salt, and he usually takes those one-handed and flying catches. It was a great catch for him.

Regarding title ambitions, Patidar remained grounded, stressing that it is still early in the tournament. The team's focus, he affirmed, is on taking things one game at a time. The victory, propelled by Kohli's steady innings and crucial cameos from Patidar himself and Jitesh Sharma, saw RCB chase down the target comfortably, reaching 149/5 in 15.1 overs and ascending to the top of the IPL points table. This win underscores RCB's strong start to the season and their potential as title contenders.

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No, it's a long way to go (on the title hopes). Right now, we are just looking one game at a time.