AHMEDABAD
Bengaluru batting coach Dinesh Karthik has blamed a sudden middle-order collapse for his team’s disappointing four-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans. Despite a brilliant start from star opener Virat Kohli, the team failed to build momentum, leading to a score that was far too low to defend.
The match began with “vintage” Kohli smashing 28 runs off just 13 balls, giving the fans exactly what they wanted. However, the excitement was short-lived. Every time Bengaluru looked ready to take control, they lost several wickets in a row. Karthik noted that losing players in “clusters” is a recipe for disaster in T20 cricket, as it stops the team from forming the long partnerships needed to set a high target.
While Devdutt Padikkal fought hard with a top score of 40, the rest of the lineup struggled. The team was eventually bowled out for 155, which Gujarat chased down easily with 25 balls remaining. Despite the loss, the coaching staff praised the bowlers for their fighting spirit. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat said he was proud that the bowlers made the Titans work hard for their victory rather than giving up.
Bengaluru remains second in the standings, but they know they must sharpen their skills before their next big game in Lucknow on May 7. After a few days off to recover, the team hopes to find their rhythm again and avoid the costly batting mistakes that hurt them.
