IPL 2019: AB de Villiers urges RCB to make Chinnaswamy their fortress to win the title

It has been almost three weeks since the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) got underway. But the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are still searching for their first points. Rather, one more loss and they will be out of the tournament with seven matches still to play. Despite having the superstars like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in their team, RCB have failed to live up to the expectations almost every year and the story got worse this time around.

Reflecting on the same De Villiers has cited the examples of the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to look upon for his team, Both the sides very rarely lose their home games and when they do that, more often that the teams have won the IPL. He felt that the RCB also needs to do the same and make Chinnaswamy stadium their fortress if they are to lay hands on the glittering trophy.

“If you want to succeed in T20 tournament cricket, you need to win most of your home matches. MI were unbeaten at home in 2013; they won five out of seven at home in 2015; and they won five out of seven at home in 2017.

“Chennai Super Kings also have a powerful home record, where the notoriously slow Chepauk wicket favours spin bowlers. This year, a trio of world-class spinners in canary yellow — Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh and Imran Tahir — have found grip and turn, combining to strangle the visiting batsmen, restricting opponents to modest totals,” De Villiers wrote in his column for Times of India.

Home conditions should be the strength of the team

In a way, AB de Villiers was hinting at the pitch in Bengaluru which has changed its colours over the last couple of years. It has also reflected on the way the RCB has performed. Though there have been flat decks this year, batting hasn’t been easy on the Chinnaswamy wicket. With the batting superstars in the team, one would expect for the curator to dish out a flat pitch.

“When playing in front of your own supporters, you ideally need to be able to play in consistent and predictable playing conditions… and to assemble a playing squad with the skills to thrive in these conditions… and to develop a game plan to suit these conditions… and, notwithstanding the pressure, to execute the plan with conviction and clarity,” De Villiers further wrote.

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