Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s persistent struggles continued to haunt them at their home ground as they fell short against the Gujarat Giants by 6 wickets in Match No.12 of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). With this shocking result, both RCB and GG now stand level-headed on four points from five games, making the league battle even more intriguing. As the competition heats up, every game becomes crucial in the race for a playoff spot.
Assistant coach of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Malolan Rangarajan addressed the shortcomings while answering the questions of the press.
“I think we were completely outplayed, we need to appreciate that, understand that and we were outplayed in two department as I think we fielded well, but as far as bat and ball is concerned, having being here in RCB for a while, 126, when you’re looking to defend, you have to get a few early breakthroughs and unfortunately, even though if we were economical to start off, but wickets was the name of today’s game.
“In every tournament, in every season, there’s one game that comes like this. And it’s just unfortunate timing at the moment that it’s come after two losses you could spin a different story for the previous two games. I generally believe with the challenges that we’ve had this year, the group has been responding tremendously well.”
The coach said that with the conditions they have, it is slightly unpredictable. The previous game saw 180 as a very good score, but today, the pitch was slightly slower. It has been a challenge to understand the conditions, but their strength lies in assessing them as well as possible. As a coaching staff, they have discussed that one such game comes in every season, and it feels like today was that game, unfortunately coinciding with their two losses.
On assessing the conditions in Bengaluru, the assistant coach said that it has been an even playing field at Chinnaswamy and not toss-oriented. Even though the results have ended up a certain way, the team’s performance in the last two games, where they scored 160 and 180, showed that the opposition did not chase the targets easily.
Unlike in Baroda, where the toss played a massive role due to the dew and a placid wicket, Chinnaswamy has been much better and more balanced for both bat and ball. However, he was unable to pinpoint a particular reason why teams have been chasing. He concluded that, on this occasion, they simply did not have enough runs on the board.
On backing the batters and calling it a disappointing day of the season, Rangarajan said that when they think about it, they feel that batting second might have helped, but they are not too worried about what happens at the toss. They have played on two pitches, not three different ones, and they played on the same pitch against Mumbai, which could explain why it was slightly on the slow side today.
“It was a slow start, and we always knew that if you hold on to wickets in Chinnaswamy across IPL or WPL, you have the ability to double a score beyond a particular point in the game. So, we were able to achieve that goal; where we wanted to hold on to wickets and then put pressure back on them and that’s what we did. I think we were 60 odd after 9 overs in the last game. So, we have clear plans, the girls have been responding very well in assessing conditions. Today, we would like to think and it’s pretty evident what happened at the park today that we were out there, and it was one of those games with unfortunate timing.”
On answering the question about over-reliance on the big guns in the batting order, Rangarajan said that Smriti Mandhana, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Ellyse Perry, Raghvi Bist, Richa Ghosh, Kanika Ahuja, and Georgia Wareham contribute to the team’s performance, so there isn’t an over-reliance on the big names. He mentioned that Perry has been batting exceptionally well, beyond what is expected of a normal cricketer. He emphasized that concerns about over-reliance stem from a fear of probability, which the team does not share. According to him, they have great faith in their entire batting unit.
He pointed out that when Richa and Kanika secured a win, Perry had already been dismissed after scoring a fifty, yet there was still a lot of work left to do. In that game, Kanika and Richa stepped up, while in another game, Kanika and Raghvi Bist made valuable contributions. The batting lineup has seen contributions from multiple players, largely because Perry has been performing at an extraordinary level. While it might seem like over-reliance on her, it is actually a reflection of her exceptional efforts.
He added that Danni Wyatt-Hodge played a good knock in the previous game, Mandhana started the tournament well and is due for a big score, and Richa secured a win for the team while chasing. The team does not feel over-reliant on any one player. However, Perry has been outperforming not just the RCB team but the entire league as well.
On backing the leg-spinner Prema Rawat who conceded 19 runs which helped the Giants to gain momentum, he said, “Harleen Deol was at the other end. So, it worked out as though she ended up giving 19 runs. It wasn’t the best old, and I’m sure she will also say the same thing that it wasn’t the best over. Prema Rawat is hugely, hugely talented. We believe in her, didn’t have the best game. 126 was a little too less to play with. Having said that, Prema could have bowled better, but again we know how good she can be. Let’s not forget her first WPL wicket is of Beth Mooney.”
On being questioned about the possible matchup of Smriti Mandhana facing difficulties and getting out against spin, he added, “Players of the caliber of Smriti Mandhana and Perry are very aware of their game. So, there isn’t a specific notion of the game that they’re looking at. They are constantly looking to get better as a cricketer. So, the work to improve always goes on. I don’t think she is sitting and thinking about getting out to spin. I think knowingly she is thinking about how she can dominate and look to score runs.
“Whatever I’ve seen of her working in our practice session, she’s always looking at options of how she can score runs where her singles are. Is she able to create angles within the field used to square leg or go over covers. So, when you interact with her, that becomes her journey of improving against all types of bowing. And you have to eventually get out to somebody, no batter wants to get out, but you end up getting out to someone and maybe Smriti gets out to spin.
“But her journey, whatever I have seen in the last three years, she’s improved, but obviously there are teams who are also planning to get her out. So, she is working, not only on her game against spin, but throughout how she’s going to pace her innings, because batting involves a lot more intricacies than just the one matchup of who the opposition bowler is.”
Batting Coach of the Gujarat Giants Dan Marsh answered the questions of the press.
“I think both teams have struggled batting first throughout the tournament. I can’t tell you the reason why. I think potentially the teams don’t quite know what a good score is and teams have been losing wickets in the power play.”
On their plans and discussions while bowling first, the batting coach said that they aim to take wickets in the power play, which is a common strategy for every team. He mentioned that Gautam bowled very well to Smriti and, although she was unable to take a wicket, she built up pressure as the game progressed.
On Beth Mooney’s form, which has been a minor issue for the Giants, he added “Well, she’s one of those players who’s been opening the batting and as I said, the conditions have been quite difficult. She’s a quality player. She looked in good nick today, but just unfortunately it went straight to the fielder, but she’ll come right for us. She’s a class player.”
“We think Phoebe Litchfield plays very well when the fielders are back, when there’s four people out. There’s a lot of gaps for her. She’s batting at number three for Australia, has just started, so she’s got a bit of learning to do in that position. So I think she’s going to be an excellent number three for Australia and hopefully Gujarat as well.”
On the improvement in fielding, an area where the team has had a horrendous performance in the initial phases of the tournament, Marsh said, “We knew we didn’t field well in the first game of the tournament. And I think since then we’ve actually really improved. And that’s just around the awareness of where to be getting the fielders in the right spot and I think we’re improving in the field. We’ve got a terrific fielding coach in James Foster, and he’s put in a lot of work.”
On GG’s batting order, which has seen the change in opening pair off late, “I think we’ve been searching for it. I think today we might look at going for it. Harleen Deol will go in if we lose an early wicket, and post the Power play we will send in Gardner. She’s in terrific form. So, most teams have sort of plans around that. That’s our plan. And hopefully Dayalan Hemalatha comes good in the next couple of games as well.”
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