With their bowling attack, RCB need to score 20-30% more than what they are scoring: Brian Lara

Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara feels that RCB batters need to make up for their weak bowling line-up by scoring “20 or 30% more runs” since what they are currently doing is not enough. Lara’s comments came in the aftermath of RCB’s seven-wicket drubbing at the Wankhede Stadium against Mumbai Indians, where their bowlers were thoroughly mauled by the opponents in a 198-run chase. Even RCB’s best bowler on the night, Vijaykumar Vyshak, conceded at 10.7 runs as Mumbai Indians romped home with a whopping 5.3 overs to spare.  

"They've got to understand that with the bowling attack that they've got, they have to try and hit 20 or 30% more runs because it's just not enough. So, they need to break their innings together and say we need to get so much in the powerplay, middle overs and the death, but nobody is getting into batting form, nobody is getting into bowling form as well, and it's a team that is just not in the top 6 or 7 in this tournament. They have to improve so much, to really be a factor, to sort of challenge the teams. Just like KKR have got a good bowling attack. So, it's good to see the batters getting runs but they need an injection of good bowlers and positive thinking in that squad," Lara said while speaking to Star Sports on Cricket Live.

Also read: We don't have many options in bowling department, need to score more runs to compensate for it: Faf du Plessis

"They've not been able to get it right at all, they are not bad bowlers. You look at [Reece] Topley, you look at [Mohammed] Siraj, they are international bowlers and I believe that something is wrong, they are not getting their game plan properly, they are not bowling in areas that the batters are weak in. I think they are just running in and bowling sort of into the pitch or up to the bat, not thinking of the weakness of the players. When bowling to Ishan Kishan you've got to get the ball to nip back into him and not give him any room. It's just so free for all," he added.

Lara also spoke on Kohli’s dismissal against Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a Player-of-the-Match winning fifer for his team in a convincing win. "Quite happy with Virat Kohli coming in after him with the new ball, he said the wicket was sticky. Virat would have done better looking for the ball, getting his boundary, but he went ultra-aggressive and got out.”

Lara’s co-panellist and former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh spoke on Mohammed Siraj's form this season, stating that being consistently on the ground series after series is taking a toll on him and his bowling accuracy.

"He should be given rest for a couple of reasons. He should think about what has been happening in the team. He is the same Siraj that we have seen taking wickets with the new ball whether it's in Test cricket, one day cricket or even this format in T20. He has been a champion bowler for team India, and even for RCB he has done well. But I feel he's not doing what he is required to do, he requires rest, not only mentally but physically as well because he has been playing lot of cricket,” said Harbhajan.

Also read: IPL 2024: Mohammed Siraj bows down to Jasprit Bumrah in heart warming gesture after MI's win over RCB

“He’s played four Tests against England, before that whatever series India was playing, he has already been a part of the team. And he bowls a lot of overs. So, for me he looks a bit tired physically and mentally. And with this kind of hammering, it's difficult for any bowler to wake up the next day and feel alright. I also went through these situations where I got hammered by different batters, you have to give yourself a bit of time to relax, think about your game and work hard in the nets, work on your game and come back stronger like we have seen Siraj and I'm sure he'll come back stronger," he added.