Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) find themselves on the brink of early elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, having managed only one victory in their first eight matches. Another defeat could seal their fate and send them packing. RCB’s struggles have not been limited to this season; they have consistently underperformed throughout much of the IPL’s history. Former Australia captain and ex-RCB player Aaron Finch has shed light on some of the core reasons behind the franchise’s persistent poor performances in the T20 league.
Finch pinpointed RCB’s auction strategy as a significant factor in their underwhelming showings. He observed that the team management tends to invest heavily in batters, leaving little room in their budget for a top-quality bowler, particularly a spinner.
“I think there have been a couple of reasons why it hasn’t gone well, and I think it does start off with the auction table when you put so much emphasis on your batting group and doesn’t leave a huge amount of room for your bowling,” Finch explained on a Star Sports show.
Finch emphasized the need for a world-class spinner, a deficiency that was evident in RCB’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He hailed Sunil Narine as a prime example of a world-class operator who consistently delivers.
“The lack of a world-class spinner, I guess it’s something and proven in the game against KKR, Sunil Narine is a world-class operator and he’s somebody who gets the job done day in day out. It’s just that lack of a spinner there to be relied on consistently,” Finch stated.
Finch also questioned the team management’s decision to field Cameron Green in the middle order despite it not being his preferred position.
“I think they have got some issues with playing players out of position at times. I mean Cameron Green, to trade for him for such a big price, for such a big percentage of a salary cap, to then bat him in the middle order where he’s not as comfortable as batting at the top is is a real strange move. You’re asking a guy to do a job which he is not comfortable with from the start so you’re not setting him up for the ultimate success in my opinion,” Finch asserted.
Languishing at the bottom of the 10-team points table, RCB’s playoff hopes seem bleak unless they can pull off a miraculous turnaround.
