RCB in good place despite disruptions: Mo Bobat

On the injury front, Bobat provided updates on Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood. Read further on Dynamite News:

Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Director of Cricket Mo Bobat on Friday said the team remains in a positive frame of mind despite recent disruptions, including scheduling uncertainties and injury-related absences.

Speaking to reporters ahead of RCB’s next fixture, Bobat confirmed that the recent India-Pakistan conflict that had caused some disarray has now been resolved. "It was a bit disruptive personally and for the group, but many of our players managed to go home briefly, spend time with family, and return re-energised. The mood in the camp is very upbeat," he told reporters on the eve of match against KKR.

On the injury front, Bobat provided updates on Rajat Patidar and Josh Hazlewood. "Rajat had a hand injury but has returned to training in recent days. Josh is the only player currently not with the squad as he recovers from a shoulder niggle in Australia. Our medical team is in constant touch with theirs, and he’s progressing day by day," he added.

Bobat acknowledged that the extension of the season has created logistical challenges, particularly around overseas player availability. "We will miss Jacob Bethell for a couple of matches and possibly another player. We’re in discussions with national boards and assessing potential replacements," he said.

On tactical considerations, Bobat dismissed concerns around left- and right-hand batting combinations. “With the Impact Player rule and teams generally fielding six or seven bowlers, these matchups are less significant. Our focus is on clarity of roles and consistency,” he explained.

On bowling options, Bobat said there were no major concerns despite the likely absence of Lungi Ngidi and possibly another pacer after two games. "We’ve got international-quality bowlers in the squad. Rasikh Dar is one of the names we’re excited about. We’ll assess replacements calmly in the coming days,” he noted.

Asked about the unique fan gesture of wearing white Test jerseys as a tribute to Virat Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket, Bobat admitted that while it hasn’t been formally discussed, some players found it slightly difficult to spot the ball. “It’s been noticed, especially here in Bangalore, but it hasn’t caused any major disruption,” he clarified.

Bobat also revealed that the team trained in the afternoon to prepare for possible rain. “These are the things we can control. On match days, we want our players to feel relaxed and focused. We don’t obsess over the uncontrollables like weather,” he added.