Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India] - April 16: Rajat Patidar, the captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), praised his bowlers following their impressive display against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He noted that winning the toss played a crucial role in establishing their momentum, as the fast bowlers consistently delivered strong performances.

Patidar commended Krunal Pandya for his unpredictable and brave bowling, while also singling out Suyash Sharma for his disciplined stump-to-stump deliveries, which he found particularly impressive.

RCB secured a convincing five-wicket victory over LSG in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday night, with Kohli's fluent innings and valuable contributions from Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma leading the team to the top of the points table.

“The bowling was fantastic. Winning the toss was a significant advantage. The way our fast bowlers hit the deck was enjoyable to watch. I’m not sure what Krunal will bowl next, but he is undoubtedly a courageous bowler. Suyash’s stump-to-stump bowling was also remarkable,” Patidar remarked after the match.

He further acknowledged the contributions of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood as a new-ball duo, emphasizing that their experience simplifies the captain's role and enhances the overall effectiveness of the bowling unit.

Patidar also highlighted the team's improved fielding, pointing out a sharp catch by Phil Salt and noting their consistent focus on fielding intensity since the season began.

Regarding their title aspirations, Patidar remained cautious, emphasizing the importance of taking the tournament one match at a time.

“Having specialist bowlers like Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood makes a captain's job easier, as they know what to do without needing constant guidance. Their experience benefits the entire bowling lineup. Our team has been dedicated to improving fielding intensity since the IPL started. Phil Salt made a fantastic catch, as he usually does with those one-handed grabs. However, it’s still a long journey ahead for us. Right now, we are focused on one game at a time,” he concluded.

Rasikh Salam Dar, alongside a brilliant bowling display from Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, led a dominant performance as LSG was dismissed for a modest total of 146 against the defending champions, RCB.

In response, Kohli anchored the innings with a solid 49 runs, while skipper Rajat Patidar (27) and Jitesh Sharma (23) provided quick contributions, helping RCB achieve 149/5 in just 15.1 overs.