Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have shown signs of improvement in their bowling department, but they still have a long way to go before they can be considered playoff contenders, according to former India all-rounder Ajay Jadeja.
RCB’s bowlers played a crucial role in their four-wicket win over Gujarat Titans on Saturday, restricting the opposition to a paltry 148. However, the team’s batting lineup once again faltered, losing six wickets in quick succession after a solid start by Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli.
“The chinks in the armor are visible, what happened at the end,” Jadeja said. “But the chance is there. They’re off the ventilator but they’re still in the ICU.”
Jadeja praised the bowlers for their performance, saying that it was the “real work” that set up the win. He believes that the bowling department has started to click for RCB, which is crucial for their chances of success in the business end of the season.
However, Jadeja cautioned that qualifying for the playoffs remains a “very tough ask” for RCB. He said that the team needs to develop a mentality where they can rely on someone to bail them out of difficult situations.
Despite the team’s struggles, Jadeja was impressed with RCB’s aggressive approach with the bat in the small chase. He said that the team’s decision to start the game with two sixes in the first over showed a different mindset.
“What Faf did, he was operating at a different pace,” Jadeja said. “Later, there was some excitement in the match but at no point did it seem like this was (GT win) going to be successful.”
