Royal Challengers Bengaluru and South African great AB de Villiers feels that the balance of Rajat Patidar's team looks "10 times better" in comparison to previous years. The kind of start they have got for the season, winning two away games in a row even before playing their first home match, will make the job easier going forward, IPL's "Mr 360" added.
On Friday, RCB crushed five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings by 50 runs at Chepauk -- the Bengaluru-based side's first win against CSK in Chennai since the inaugural edition in 2008.
"At the (IPL) auction (last year), I spoke about RCB needing balance. It's not about the bowlers, batters or fielders... it's about having a sound balance in IPL teams and options," said on his podcast 'AB de Villiers 360'.
๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐! ๐ซก
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 29, 2025
A win brought to you by little invaluable contributions from everyone, summed up perfectly in the dressing room. ๐
Focus now shifts to our first HOME game against GT.#PlayBold #เฒจเฒฎเณเฒฎRCB #IPL2025 #CSKvRCB pic.twitter.com/xao9GD3eSN
With India swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar drafted into the side for the CSK game after not finding a place in the opening match against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, de Villiers said, it's the depth in options, which make RCB a formidable side this season. Kumar's crucial wicket of the dangerous Deepak Hooda in Power Play left CSK reeling at 3/26, from where they never recovered and finally managed 146/8, chasing 197 for victory.
"I saw Bhuvi and thought 'he wasn't going to play and he came in'. That's what you want. You want guys like 'wow is this guy the replacement'. He's not even in the starting lineup in the first game (vs KKR) and now they are getting Bhuvi Kumar to replace someone int he second game. This is the kind of balance and depth you need in the side," the destructive batter who played almost all his IPL for RCB.
Both of RCB's wins this season so far have been in opponents' territory -- vs KKR in Kolkata and vs CSK in Chepauk -- and de Villiers said it was truly amazing.
"The defending champions, KKR... to beat them away from home at the star of thr campaign, and also CSK whose record at Chepauk, is absolutely incredible. From here, the road actually gets easier for RCB as we look at the points table. RCB are right on top; the only team with two wins and a fantastic bet run rate."
De Villiers said the scheduling was really tough for RCB but they had shown the gumption to take everything in their stride.
"The start of a campaign is never easy but they did it absolutely spot on. Look at that 'away, away, now they go home. Then they are away again, home, away home away, it's crazy. I've never seen a situation like this and it is challenging but it can be one of your strengths," opined the South African.
He felt that teams on the move tend to bond better if they build a winning momentum.
"It can keep the squad together especially when you find a bit of momentum to jump around like that... you often find yourself travelling together. If you have four home games in a row, you sort of lose feel for the players.
"...Guys do different things, they go to restaurants at night and you sort of lose that touch and the connection between the squad," he said.
According to de Villiers, CSK dropping Patidar a couple of times was the turning point in the game. The skipper went on to score a 32-ball 51.
"He's (Patidar) been very calm out there as a young captain, a captain who is trying to fill huge boots of Virat Kohli. It's not easy, it can be intimidating. He must be feeling the pressure but he is not showing any signs. He is batting beautifully, he's taking very clear decision on the field."
De Villiers said Patidar's clarity of thought was a key factor in RCB beating two of the toughest teams so far in the tournament.
