We are strong enough to find way through this period, says AB de Villiers
IPL
AB de Villiers thinks that RCB is strong enough to find their way through the tough phase that they are currently in. With four back to back home matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore, the former South African batsman is hopeful that home games will help their comeback into the tournament.
Royal Challengers Bangalore have played four games so far and have only been able to win one match. Given the strong team that they have at their disposal, this does not look like a start that anyone would have expected of them. In his column for TOI, AB de Villiers shares his disappointment on the rough start and assures that their comeback would be soon.Â
"Five matches into a new season that started with such high hopes, this is not where we expected to be. Winning one and losing four falls way below our expectations. Under pressure, the temptation is always to panic and to start doubting each other. I am certain that, under the steady and intelligent guidance of coach Dan Vittori, this RCB group is strong enough to find our way through this period and get back into contention at the top of the table." de Villiers wrote.
Seeing the next four games as a good opportunity to make a comeback, de Villiers wrote,"Our next four games will all be played in front of our home supporters at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium and this burst of matches over the next ten days presents us with an ideal opportunity to revive our campaign. Win one, win two... confidence grows...,"Â
In their game against Mumbai, RCB had a flying start with the ball. Umesh Yadav took two wickets on the first two balls, but then Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis took the game away from RCB with some superb batting. De Villiers felt that they shouldnât have let Mumbai get away so easily and was also, high on praise for Virat Kohli, who he thinks will be pivotal in their comeback.Â
"Defeat in Mumbai on Sunday was disappointing, especially after Umesh Yadav took two MI wickets with the first two balls of the match. Rohit Sharma proceeded to play
Irrespective of the criticism, ABD thinks that his franchise picked up a good squad and they are a well-balanced team. He pointed out that the only thing lacking in their team is rhythm.Â
"Pundits have inevitably started to question the composition of our squad, with the familiar refrain that our team is top heavy with batsmen. I donât agree. In my view, our recruitment was spot on and we have assembled a well-balanced squad capable of performing consistently well in what, as Iâve said, is an ever stronger competition.
"In times like it becomes important to focus on regaining rhythm... rhythm in following our bowling plans, rhythm in our batting and rhythm in our fielding. This process starts in training and follows
RCB host Delhi Daredevils on Saturday, who also have won only one match, but have played one less game than RCB. This would an ideal chance for RCB to get back to their winning ways. De Villiers emphasizes that they donât need to do anything extra and must stick to their basics and game plans for the much-awaited win. Â
"Delhi Daredevils will be the visitors to Bengaluru on Friday, and they also find themselves at the wrong end of the table one third of the way through the tournament. It will be a tough match, but, by concentrating on the basics, by keeping faith both with our strategy and each other, we can start to turn the season around and deliver to the RCB supporters all around the country the success that they have so long craved and so richly deserve," De Villiers said.
