While avoiding the issue over the relocation of the final from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, Rajat Patidar, captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, acknowledged on Monday that bowlers were finding it more and more difficult to survive in an IPL dominated by 200-plus totals.
Prior to RCB’s Qualifier 1 match against Gujarat Titans at Dharamsala on Tuesday, Patidar said that bowlers, particularly pacers, should be concerned because even scores above 220–250 were no longer safe in the competition.
“I feel it is more challenging for the bowlers. The wickets are batting friendly, boundaries are smaller and there is dew as well. Especially for fast bowlers, even a small mistake goes for six,” PTI quoted Patidar as saying during the pre-match media interaction.
“But whatever wicket or conditions we get, we just try to do our best on that. It is not in my hands to decide how the wickets should be,” he added.
When asked about the IPL final being moved from Bengaluru to Ahmedabad, Patidar responded calmly.
“It’s not in my control. This is a historic site, so wherever the final is going to be, that’s where it is going to be. We are focused on reaching the final,” he said.
The BCCI relocated the championship match to Ahmedabad for to operational problems and regional political considerations, including as overwhelming ticket requests and crowd control challenges.
In what Patidar termed as a match between two evenly matched teams, RCB and GT, who ended the league stage with identical points, will compete for a direct position in the final.
“Both teams have done pretty well throughout the season. On the given day, whichever team executes its plans better and stays calm under pressure, is going to win,” he said.
Despite the high-scoring nature of the competition, Patidar declared that RCB would maintain their aggressive strategy.
“Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the Powerplay will be very crucial and everyone in the team knows that we are not here to defend, we are here with the mindset of attacking,” he said.
“We will look for early wickets and that’s what we have done so far. Doing the same thing again and again will make the difference,” he added while praising the pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood and Rasikh Salam.
Despite Bhuvneshwar’s expensive performance in the previous game, Patidar too supported the seasoned seamer.
“He is an experienced bowler. He knows about his strengths. The way he is talking to the junior bowlers, his presence in the team is very important,” he said.
Patidar did not provide a clear response when asked if opener Phil Salt, who recently returned from England after receiving treatment for an injured finger, was available.
“He is fit and doing drills but we have not decided the Playing XI yet,” he said.
Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya meanwhile, agreed with Patidar’s evaluation of the forthcoming match and described it as a struggle between two evenly matched teams.
“The moment you say battle, yes, it’s going to be a battle. We have met twice this season and it’s 1-1. Both teams are equally matched with big players on both sides,” Dahiya said.
In a season where high scores predominate, Dahiya emphasized the need of bowling consistently.
“At the end of the day, you need a solid bowling unit. What stands out for both teams is the consistency of their bowling attacks and the belief shown by captains and management in those bowlers,” he said.
He gave particular recognition to Mohammed Siraj, the GT pace leader, and his collaboration with other pacers under coach Ashish Nehra.
“The chemistry between the bowlers is phenomenal. They understand each other mentally and skill-wise. A lot of credit goes to Ashish Nehra for the way he handles them,” Dahiya said.
The former India wicketkeeper added that while experienced spinners might still have an impact, the high-altitude Dharamsala conditions would favor strokeplay.
“There is not much role for spinners here traditionally because of the high altitude and smaller boundaries, but quality spinners always find a way to contribute,” he said.
In a time when power hitting is becoming more and more common, Dahiya also emphasized the technical prowess and versatility of batters like Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Virat Kohli.
“If you are technically and mentally strong, you can change your game according to the situation and format. Virat has done it for years, and the way Shubman Gill has played this season shows how strong he is mentally as well,” he said.
He also disclosed that top spinner Rashid Khan had found his groove again following challenging seasons marked by surgeries and injuries.
“The hunger to improve is still there despite everything he has achieved. GT supported him when he was not at his best and now he is giving back to the team,” Dahiya added.
