Bhuvneshwar Kumar Defends Hazlewood After RCB's Loss to GT
RCB's Struggles Against GT
After the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced a defeat against the Gujarat Titans (GT), pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar came to the defense of teammate Josh Hazlewood, who had a challenging outing during the powerplay. He also shed light on the decision to not use spinner Krunal Pandya in the match.
Batting Woes for RCB
RCB struggled with the bat, losing wickets frequently despite a solid start from Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal. Ultimately, they were bowled out for 155 runs in just 19.2 overs. In response, GT's captain Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler took charge during the powerplay, with Gill aggressively targeting Hazlewood, scoring 24 runs in his opening over. Hazlewood's figures were disappointing, ending with 0/56 in four overs.
Bhuvneshwar's Support for Hazlewood
In the post-match press conference, Bhuvneshwar expressed his support for Hazlewood, stating that every player can have an off day in a lengthy tournament. He remarked, "It was just one of those games. They (GT) batted well, and it can happen to anyone during a long tournament with 14 league matches. We are satisfied with our powerplay bowling overall."
Tactical Choices Explained
RCB made a notable tactical choice by not bowling Krunal Pandya at all, opting instead for Romario Shepherd and young spinner Suyash Sharma. While Shepherd's performance of 2/30 added some excitement, it wasn't enough to secure a win. Bhuvneshwar explained that the pitch favored seamers, leading to the decision to utilize Romario, who had been struggling, and to trust Suyash's unique deliveries.
Controversial Dismissal of Patidar
Regarding the contentious catch taken by Jason Holder to dismiss RCB captain Rajat Patidar, Bhuvneshwar mentioned that they hoped the umpires would review the incident closely, as they believed the ball may have touched the ground.
RCB's Batting Strategy
Bhuvneshwar also discussed the team's batting strategy, indicating that during his partnership with impact substitute Venkatesh Iyer, they aimed for a target around 170 runs, considering the early assistance for fast bowlers.
Prioritizing Team Success
Currently holding the Purple Cap with 17 wickets in nine innings, Bhuvneshwar emphasized that individual accolades are secondary to team success. He stated, "While it's nice to have the purple cap, my focus is on achieving more for the team. At this stage in my career, personal awards are not my main goal; I am committed to contributing to the team's objectives."
Match Summary
In the match, GT chose to bowl first. Virat Kohli provided a strong start for RCB, scoring 28 runs off 13 balls. However, due to impressive bowling from Arshad Khan (3/22), Rashid Khan (2/19), and Jason Holder (2/29), RCB struggled to maintain momentum and finished with 155 runs. During GT's chase, quick contributions from Shubman Gill (43 off 18 balls) and Jos Buttler (39 off 19 balls) propelled them forward, despite losing three top-order batsmen. Rahul Tewatia's steady innings helped GT secure their fifth win of the season, while RCB remained in second place, having lost three out of nine matches.