IPL 2023: The Curious case of RCB's lower order and Shahbaz Ahmed's role

RCB all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed has scored 40 runs with the bat in 5 innings, and has failed to take a wicket in 3 innings in 7 matches this season.

Royal Challengers Bangalore had found an able finisher & all-rounder in Shahbaz Ahmed in the IPL 2022. RCB in the Indian Premier League had always banked on heavy top-order. They have struggled to find one good finisher in the league so far. Shahbaz Ahmed with his late hitting earned a good reputation in the last season. In the IPL 2023, RCB started with a similar approach, they gave Shahbaz Ahmed game time to bat in the lower order at Number 6. After a string of continuous failure in the first few games, RCB moved him up in the order against Rajasthan Royals. Shahbaz batted at Number 3 but once again he failed to score big.

Ahmed's failure is increasing RCB's headache

The RCB management looked a little clueless about Shahbaz Ahmed’s role in the team. Failed with the bat, Shahbaz Ahmed had also not bowled much this season. Shahbaz has bowled in patches and also doesn’t look settled in batting. RCB’s another find of the last season, Rajat Patidar is out of action due to an injury and the Number 3 position in the current RCB squad looks wide open. They are trying multiple options from Dinesh Karthik to Glenn Maxwell to now Shahbaz Ahmed. RCB’s batting is heavily banking on their top order. Most of the scoring was done by captain Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell.

Apart from these three, RCB have always been trying new options in the middle and lower order. Shahbaz Ahmed’s form had added a few extra problems in the RCB setup. In 5 innings Ahmed has scored only 40 runs, and he is also wicket-less in the 3 innings he has bowled. Ahmed had scored 219 runs in 11 innings for RCB in the last season and helped RCB in the final overs with the bat. His performance also took him to play for India. Ahmed has been struggling to middle the ball and has scored only 4 boundaries in 5 innings. Despite the victories, Ahmed’s case has put some pressure on RCB management as well. RCB need to find a set order in batting as the race in the Points Table heats up.  

RCB lack a formidable option in lower down the order. If they carry on with Shahbaz at Number 3, then their lower order looks a bit out of place. Dinesh Karthik has lost his rhythm, and Mahipal Lomror and Suyash Prabhdesai are inexperienced in the league. Against Rajasthan, RCB faced a similar situation. They were cruising for a big score against the Royals with Faf and Maxwell's partnership. After the third wicket went down, RCB’s inexperienced lower order could not cross the 190 mark.