Image Credit- BCCI
Faf du Plessis was encouraged by Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s newfound assertiveness, which enabled them defeat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs and maintain their playoff hopes in the 2024 Indian Premier League.
“We want to play that style of cricket – RCB talks about playing bold,” du Plessis said, “and just proud that we can actually do that now, putting our performance together.”
RCB knew going into the game that a loss would mean they would not be able to advance further in the competition. Even after being thrown in, they cheaply lost both du Plessis and Virat Kohli. However, that did not deter Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar from putting on an explosive 88-run partnership for the third wicket in a counterattack. They ultimately concluded on 187 for 9.
“It’s just confidence, isn’t it?” du Plessis said of the batting performance. “First half of the season, we were really fighting for it, didn’t quite come together for us; you just need a couple of guys to find their form in the tournament, and it’s happened.
“From a batting perspective, we’ve been around that 200 mark six-seven games in a row now [five in their last seven], so boys are batting really well. And then the bowling obviously – I think the first five or six games, we almost couldn’t get wickets at all, and now, this is the third time [in a row] we have bowled a team out. So that’s a good effort. Especially today’s game, with the extra guy batting.”
“A lot of work has gone in behind the scenes,” du Plessis said. “I think that’s for me the most obvious thing where the change has happened. I feel that behind closed doors, we are getting it right in our processes – we have been talking about what we want to achieve and what we want to get better at. And that, for me, is the shining light for the way the boys have bowled.
“Also, as a captain, I feel we have a lot of variety in our bowling attack. Six or seven options, all very different. So you assess the conditions on the night and you can just pull the best options almost out. But since Siraj has come back, obviously wanting to prove a point, has bowled beautifully. Yash has been exceptional right through the tournament. And Lockie the last few games has been brilliant.”