RCB's Mo Bobat Discusses Strategy Ahead of IPL Clash with Delhi Capitals

RCB Prepares for Upcoming Match Against Delhi Capitals

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 16: As the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) gear up for their match against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday, the franchise's Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, shared insights into his approach regarding batting combinations.

Currently, RCB holds the second position in the IPL 2025 standings with eight victories and three defeats, totaling 16 points. They are set to continue the tournament after a brief suspension, facing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru on Saturday. KKR sits in sixth place with five wins, six losses, and one no result, accumulating 11 points.

The IPL was paused on May 9 for a week due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, with matches resuming on May 17.

In a pre-match press conference, Mo Bobat stated, “Personally, I don’t focus too much on the right and left-hand batting combinations. Different teams have varying perspectives on this. With the introduction of the impact player rule and teams typically having six or seven bowlers, the distinction between right and left-handers becomes less significant. It primarily alters the bowling strategy.”

He further explained, “In a standard 11 vs 11 setup, having a left-hander can sometimes pressure a bowler. However, I believe this is becoming less of a concern. Throughout this tournament, we’ve observed instances where certain bowlers haven’t completed their overs due to a left-hander being at the crease, and they manage just fine.”

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad for IPL 2025 includes: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Yash Dayal, Josh Hazlewood, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Rasikh Dar, Suyash Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Nuwan Thushara, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethel, Mayank Agrawal, Swastik Chhikara, Lungi Ngidi, Abhinandan Singh, Mohit Rathee.