Familiar problems persist as RCB look to get back on track

 

Can RCB improve their death bowling in the game against LSG? © BCCI

 
With two wins in as many games at home, LSG are building up to making their Lucknow a fortress in the early stages of IPL 2023. However, they came up short in their only outing outside of Lucknow, in a high-scoring encounter in Chennai.

If their home domination was built on the back of their bowling strength on those pitches, high pace on the red soil and slower bowlers led by a resurgent Krunal Pandya on the black soil, their prowess to win a T20 game by outbatting opponents remains a question mark as of now.

On paper though, it's a line-up that should promise to do that given the right conditions. That could be a big part of the gameplay when it comes to conquering RCB on their home turf, given the size of the ground that should help the power-hitters if the pitch plays to plan.

RCB have blown hot and cold in their two encounters so far in the tournament, but return to a site where they played impressively well against Mumbai Indians in their opening encounter. The pitch then had brought their bowlers into play as well, with Mohammed Siraj setting the tone upfront and later being backed up by the likes of Karn Sharma.

The latter's performances, picking four wickets in two games ought to be comforting for the side, but the problem that has plagued them over the years - death bowling - continues to persist. They were hard done by due to injuries to key players on that front, but will now have to find new personnel to do the job effectively. So far they've conceded 117 runs in eight overs picking up only 3 wickets between overs 16 and 20. That has effectively negated the good work done earlier in the innings by the bowlers, and will be on the top of RCB's concerns early in this season.

There will be other ones as well including the form of a couple of their batting mainstays in the middle order, just as it would be for LSG who are lacking runs from the likes of KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda so far.

While both sides look to iron out the flaws, there will be the additional pressure of net run-rate on RCB following their heavy defeat. However, they have time and games to offset that.