Fans Slam RCB Skipper Virat Kohli's Baffling Decision To Send Sundar, Dube Ahead Of AB De Villiers In Game Against KXIP

RCB were perhaps 15-20 runs short at the halfway stage as their batters put a below par 171-run total. This deficit could have been due to a baffling decision by skipper Virat Kohli to send their strike weapon and versatile batsman AB De Villiers rather late in the batting order at No 6 against KXIP.

(Image: PTI)

Royal Challengers Bangalore's third loss in the ongoing 13th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) on Thursday could be largely blamed on a lackluster batting performance and their bowling unit failing to defend 172-run target against Kings Eleven Punjab. RCB were perhaps 15-20 runs short at the halfway stage as their batters put a below par 171-run total on the batting friendly deck at the Sharjah Cricket Ground. This deficit which eventually had a bearing on the result of the game could have been due to a baffling decision by skipper Virat Kohli to send their strike weapon and versatile batsman AB De Villiers rather late in the batting order at No 6 against KXIP. With both RCB openers Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron back in the pavilion after the first seven overs, fans expected AB De Villiers to join skipper Kohli at his customary No. 4 position with an aim to inject some impetus into the derailed RCB innings. However, much to everyone's surprise, all-rounder Washington Sundar came into bat at 4. Washington Sundar And Shivam Dube Promoted Up The Order Ahead Of AB De Villiers  RCB's move to promote Sundar up the order could have been with a purpose of using the all-rounder as a pinch hitter and provide the team with a quick-fire cameo. to step up the scoring rate However with Punjab spinners in full song, Sundar could not get going and eventually fell for 13 off 14 deliveries. Both Sundar and Dube Could Not Get Going As KXIP Spinners Cast Web Around Them With Sundar back in the pavilion, RCB sprung up yet another surprise by sending all-rounder Shivam Dube ahead of De Villiers. Dube too struggled to rotate strike and when Kohli urged him to go for the big shots, the all-rounder struck too massive sixes off spinner Ravi Bishnoi but eventually fell for 23. There was some respite with De Villiers eventually coming out to bat in the 16th over but it seemed to be rather too late. Much to the despair of RCB, Mr 360 fell for 2 to seamer Mohammad Shami. RCB also lost skipper Virat Kohli and the game swung in the favour of KXIP. RCB fans were infuriated and expressed their discontent and frustration on social media over skipper Virat Kohli's baffling decision to send Washington Sundar and  Shivam Dube ahead of AB De Villiers against Kings Eleven Punjab

Why sending Washington Sundar and shivam dube before ABD, RCB thinking ABD as some sort of finisher only, that's a very wrong strategy ???????? #RCBvsKXIP

— Kartik K (@iamkarthik1988) October 15, 2020

Are you deranged @imVkohli. What's the logic behind sending Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube before Mr. 360.

Is anyone on earth better than @ABdeVilliers17 ? May the less stupid captain wins #RCBvsKXIP — Shashank (@Shashan71009557) October 15, 2020

Why didn't you send ab de villiers ahead of Washington sundar and shivam dube, ab de villiers scored a 70 previous match, and kohli scored https://t.co/jA1Ks4moIa the plan worked, kohli scored 48 and ab de villiers scored nothing and rcb will lose. Rip rcb team and lose today

— vivekpj (@vivekpj_human) October 15, 2020