IPL 2024: Dropped catches cost us – Faf du Plessis after loss against LSG

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis rued the dropped catches after their 28-run loss against Lucknow Super Giants at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Tuesday. Quinton de Kock was given a reprieve when Glenn Maxwell could not hang on to a difficult chance while running back when the left-hander was on 32.

Furthermore, Anuj Rawat bungled Nicholas Pooran’s catch when the left-hander was on two. While de Kock went on to score 81 runs (his 22nd IPL fifty), Pooran scored an unbeaten 40 off just 21 balls to help LSG post 181 runs on the board after they were put into bat.

Thus, those two dropped catches cost a lot of extra runs and it could have been a different story had RCB taken these catches.

Faf du Plessis said in the post-match presentation, “Spot on (dropped catches cost us). Two very good players, QdK when was on 25-30 and Nicky P was on 2, 60-65 extra runs, mistakes like that can cost you in the IPL.”

On the other hand, the South African lauded rookie pacer Mayank Yadav, who troubled RCB’s batters with his extra pace. Yadav went on to clock 156.7 kmph and returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in his quota of four overs. Yadav accounted for Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, and Rajat Patidar in his fine spell. Du Plessis said the way Yadav controlled length was impressive.

He said, “It is the new action you haven’t faced before, and if they have pace then you need time to get used to it (about Mayank). But his ability to control length and have accuracy is impressive.”

Meanwhile, Faf was not pleased with their bowling effort, especially in the Powerplay overs as RCB conceded 54 runs in the first six.

Faf concluded, “I didn’t think we were very good with our bowling, especially in the powerplay, Maxwell brought it back and there were some pleasing signs in the death overs. You need two guys to bat through and get a partnership which we were not able to do. We need the strong characters in the dressing room to put their hand up.”

RCB has now lost three out of the four matches they have played. They will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur on Saturday.