IPL 2018: KKR vs RCB: 5 talking points

#3 Same old RCB

Bowling continues to be the worry for RCB

Royal Challengers Bangalore have always banked on their batting strength in the IPL, and it is not a strategy that has worked out well on the whole for the Virat Kohli-led side, as they still await their maiden IPL triumph.

Splashing the cash on the big-hitting batsmen does leave short of strength in the bowling department, and if today's result is anything to go by, the trend is only set to continue.

Despite scoring a competitive total of 176, RCB were never really in the game after Sunil Narine got KKR off to a flying start with his aggressive batting.

Even after Narine's dismissal, RCB never looked like being able to claw their way back into the contest, as KKR were well in control of the run-chase, pacing their innings superbly, leaving Kohli helpless as skipper.

Yet, Kohli needs to take some of the blame as the way he handled the bowlers at his disposal was questionable. Yuuzvendra Chahal is perhaps RCB's best bowler, but after being used in the first over itself, he was held back and only brought back with the match already slipping away from RCB's grasp.

None of the RCB bowlers, apart from former KKR pacer Umesh Yadav, had a good day out in the middle on Sunday and it is something the RCB management will have to sort out soon to prevent yet another disappointing season for the franchise.