Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has sharply criticized Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) management for their decision to include fast bowler Abhinandan Singh in the starting lineup against Rajasthan Royals. This critique comes in the wake of the defending champions suffering their first defeat of the IPL 2026 season, a loss Srikkanth largely attributes to poor selection choices in the bowling department.
RCB are playing this Abhinandan, who is just a run feeder: Kris Srikkanth
The uncapped right-arm pacer from Uttar Pradesh has struggled significantly with consistency since making his debut in the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Over the course of three matches, Abhinandan has managed to claim only three wickets, but his primary issue has been an inability to contain runs, currently maintaining a porous economy rate of nearly 13 runs per over.
In a blunt assessment of the team's prospects, Srikkanth warned that RCB’s bowling woes are unlikely to disappear soon. He asserted that the team will continue to face similar setbacks and suffer on the scoreboard as long as they persist with playing Abhinandan in their top-flight XI.
“RCB are playing this Abhinandan, who is just a run feeder. Until they play him, they’ll suffer. Even Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar were expensive in their first two overs because of Sooryavanshi. Only Krunal Pandya bowled well. Abhinandan himself doesn’t know why he is playing in the XI,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
ALSO READ: 'Parag is playing because he is the captain': India's WC-winner cracks whip at RR skipper
RCB made a big blunder by not playing Suyash Sharma: Srikkanth
Despite having promising alternatives like left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav and the experienced Rasikh Salam available in their squad, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru management surprisingly opted to stick with Abhinandan Singh. This selection has raised eyebrows among critics, as the team bypassed potentially more effective pace options in favor of a bowler who has struggled to find his rhythm this season.
Srikkanth further intensified his critique by pointing out another significant tactical blunder: the exclusion of spinner Suyash Sharma. Srikkanth argued that leaving a talent like Suyash out of the playing XI was a major oversight, suggesting that the side's failure to utilize his spin variety played a key role in their inability to contain the opposition.
“RCB made a big blunder by not playing Suyash Sharma. Abhinandan is getting hit in every match, but RCB keeps backing him, which I don’t understand. They messed up by having Abhinandan over Suyash Sharma in the playing XI,” he added.