Tone-setting batting performances in the PowerPlay are non-negotiable to success in T20 cricket. But Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) also excels in something else – taking bucketloads of wickets in the first six overs to peg its opponents back.
In the previous match, RCB had Delhi Capitals at eight for six in 3.5 overs, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood wreaking havoc.
“We’ve been very good at taking PowerPlay wickets, and we did that well last season also,” said head coach Andy Flower, ahead of the encounter against Gujarat Titans.
“[Against DC], things came together so quickly and so well that the game was over in the blink of an eye. It was great to watch those two greats, Bhuvi and Hazlewood, bowl.”
Thursday’s contest, in Flower’s own words, will be on a surface “that plays well”. But the former Zimbabwe captain said that RCB had an all-weather attack.
“We’re playing on a 75 per cent red-soil pitch. It’s the same that we played the final on last year. But we’re comfortable with whatever conditions are put in front of us.”
Flower also stated that it was important to forget that RCB had six wins in eight games and start afresh. “It’s really important that philosophically you don’t try to hold on to stuff. It’s better to embrace the vagaries and the unpredictability of the game.”
GT too has a capable set of bowlers, and assistant coach Parthiv Patel, like Flower, opined that the pitch wouldn’t matter.
“We are well-rounded with our bowling options,” the former India wicket-keeper said. “We had Manav Suthar bowl. There is the option of Washington Sundar, and there’s Rashid Khan.
“So, we have seven bowlers [along with Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna / Arshad Khan] who can bowl four overs each. It’s not like we have to make do with part-time bowlers.”
Published on Apr 29, 2026