RCB Urged to Trust Suyash Sharma After Narrow Loss to LSG
Tare Advocates for Suyash Sharma's Role in RCB
Aditya Tare, a former player for the Mumbai Indians, has urged the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to place their confidence in leg-spinner Suyash Sharma following their narrow nine-run loss to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2026 on Thursday night.
During a discussion on Star Sports, Tare highlighted the ongoing challenges RCB faces in maintaining a balanced bowling lineup. He emphasized the necessity of establishing a reliable sixth bowler within the team. "RCB has historically struggled to identify a dependable sixth bowler. I firmly believe they should support Suyash Sharma and allow him to complete his full four-over spell," Tare stated.
Acknowledging that Sharma's performance has waned recently, Tare encouraged the team to invest in his development rather than seeking immediate fixes. "His line and length may have faltered, and his form has dipped. However, if RCB aims to defend their IPL title, they must place their trust in Suyash," he remarked.
Tare also critiqued the current bowling strategies, suggesting that Suyash should be prioritized over other part-time bowlers. "Supporting him is a more viable option than relying on Shepherd for two overs, especially since Shepherd has struggled with his bowling this season," he noted, referring to Romario Shepherd.
In conclusion, Tare asserted that consistently backing young talents like Suyash Sharma could be crucial for RCB's aspirations of winning the IPL trophy again. "Suyash Sharma requires more support if RCB intends to secure the trophy for a second time," he added.
LSG Triumphs Over RCB in Thrilling Encounter
In the meantime, LSG managed to edge past the defending champions RCB by a mere nine runs at Ekana Stadium.
The home team set a formidable target, scoring 209 runs for the loss of three wickets in 19 overs, thanks to an outstanding 111 runs off 56 balls from Mitchell Marsh, along with significant contributions from Nicholas Pooran and Rishabh Pant.
In their chase of 213 runs under the DLS method, RCB faced an early setback when Prince Yadav dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck on just his second ball. Despite a solid 95-run partnership between Rajat Patidar (61) and Devdutt Padikkal (34), along with late efforts from Tim David, Krunal Pandya, and Romario Shepherd, RCB concluded their innings at 203 runs for six wickets, falling short by nine runs.
Prince Yadav (3/33) and Shahbaz Ahmed (2/33) were instrumental in LSG's bowling performance, while Marsh's century earned him the Player of the Match accolade.