Patidar Says RCB Not Playing As Defending Champions
Rajat Patidar reflected on RCB’s loss to LSG, acknowledging the team’s bowling control but falling short by two shots. He emphasized starting fresh this season without the defending champions’ mindset, focusing on performance consistency.
RCB’s problem isn’t mentality—it’s execution under pressure. Patidar’s comments about ditching the defending champions tag are convenient deflection from their actual collapse: bowlers leaking 20+ in final overs against LSG. Nobody cared RCB won last year when they’re getting picked apart by opposition death-hitters now. Until they plug bowling gaps, fresh starts and mental resets won’t matter. This is a squad deficiency, not a mindset issue.
Shanto, Mominul Rebuild Bangladesh Past Century Mark
Bangladesh recovered from early wickets to cross 100 runs as Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque steadied the innings. Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali took early breakthroughs but couldn’t maintain pressure as Bangladesh’s middle order built partnerships in the first session.
Pakistan’s bowling attack lacks the killer instinct to finish collapses. Afridi and Hasan Ali created chances but couldn’t capitalize on Bangladesh’s fragile top order—a familiar pattern that costs Pakistan matches. What’s telling: Bangladesh’s middle-order partnerships suggest they’re finally learning to bat time rather than chase quick runs. Until Pakistan’s fast bowlers combine accuracy with aggression across full spells, they’ll keep letting teams escape from 30-3 positions. This is sloppy cricket at Test level.
Marsh And Prince Guide LSG To Rare Victory
Lucknow Super Giants snapped their six-match losing streak with a hard-fought win over RCB. Marsh and Prince displayed composure under pressure as RCB mounted a late comeback bid. LSG held their nerve in a dramatic finish to secure the crucial victory and revive their campaign.
LSG finally ended their collapse, but one win doesn’t erase their catastrophic start. Marsh’s composure mattered, yet the real story is RCB’s bowling depth failing when it counted—their death bowling remains criminally inconsistent. LSG’s middle order still looks fragile; they survived, not dominated. This victory papers over cracks that will reopen unless their batting lineup stops depending on individual rescues. One win doesn’t fix systemic problems.
Gavaskar Urges Ganguly To Balance Bat And Ball In T20
Sunil Gavaskar has appealed to Sourav Ganguly to address the growing imbalance between batting and bowling in T20 cricket. The cricket legend expressed concern about the format becoming heavily skewed towards batsmen, requesting action to restore equilibrium in the shortest format.
Gavaskar’s right—T20 has become a batting carnival that’s killed contest. The real problem: franchise leagues pay batsmen obscene money while bowlers get squeezed, so talent flows accordingly. When a twenty-year-old opener earns more than a quality fast bowler, you’ve got structural inequality, not a format issue. Ganguly needs to act on auction economics, not just tinker with pitch specifications. Fixing T20’s imbalance requires BCCI intervention in franchise payment models.
Sooryavanshi Nominated for India Test Squad but Not as Opener
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been nominated for the Indian Test team, though not in the opening position. The young talent’s calls for India debut intensify as selectors consider backing him. BCCI faces pressure to make a Tendulkar-like gamble on the talented batsman’s potential.
Sooryavanshi’s nomination without opener status reveals the selection committee’s lack of conviction in backing him fully. They’re hedging their bets—nominating without committing to where he’ll bat exposes uncertainty about his readiness for Test cricket’s demands. The Tendulkar comparison is lazy; he walked into the XI at 16 with clear intent. Sooryavanshi deserves either proper backing or none at all. Half-measures waste everyone’s time.
