NEW DELHI: The struggling Royal Challengers Bengaluru should attempt to chase targets more, according to legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar, in order to turn around their fortunes in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL).
With two points from four games, RCB is currently mired in eighth place. On Saturday, they will play Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur for their fifth match.
“Of course, the toss is not in your control.But at all possible opportunities, they should chase targets as batting is their strong point. I think that will give them a better chance at winning matches,” said Gavaskar in Bengaluru during the cricket talk show, Midwicket Stories, which also featured England batting legend Geoffrey Boycott and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull.
Gavaskar was taking a jab at the RCB’s struggling bowling unit, which has failed to defend totals when called upon.
The Bengaluru team has lost to Lucknow Super Giants in one chase game and narrowly prevailed against Punjab Kings in another.
In his broad analysis of T20’s effects, Gavaskar emphasized the entertainment value it has added to contemporary cricket.
“Modern cricket is hard but entertaining. These days not many balls are being left and a lot more shots are being played – switch-hits, reverse scoops etc. The concept of taking the shine of balls is not followed as it was the norm in our times,” he said.
When the topic of Test cricket’s future came up, Gavaskar assured everyone that the longest format would not disappear as many had feared.
“Test cricket is not dying, it will survive. Perhaps, three or four nations will play five-match series against each other while the rest will play the three-match series. I think that is going to be the way forward for that format,” Gavaskar noted.
(With PTI inputs)
With two points from four games, RCB is currently mired in eighth place. On Saturday, they will play Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur for their fifth match.
“Of course, the toss is not in your control.But at all possible opportunities, they should chase targets as batting is their strong point. I think that will give them a better chance at winning matches,” said Gavaskar in Bengaluru during the cricket talk show, Midwicket Stories, which also featured England batting legend Geoffrey Boycott and former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull.
Gavaskar was taking a jab at the RCB’s struggling bowling unit, which has failed to defend totals when called upon.
The Bengaluru team has lost to Lucknow Super Giants in one chase game and narrowly prevailed against Punjab Kings in another.
In his broad analysis of T20’s effects, Gavaskar emphasized the entertainment value it has added to contemporary cricket.
“Modern cricket is hard but entertaining. These days not many balls are being left and a lot more shots are being played – switch-hits, reverse scoops etc. The concept of taking the shine of balls is not followed as it was the norm in our times,” he said.
When the topic of Test cricket’s future came up, Gavaskar assured everyone that the longest format would not disappear as many had feared.
“Test cricket is not dying, it will survive. Perhaps, three or four nations will play five-match series against each other while the rest will play the three-match series. I think that is going to be the way forward for that format,” Gavaskar noted.
(With PTI inputs)