Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has questioned whether the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have a star-studded batting lineup before the IPL 2024, considering that a relatively unknown player like Anuj Rawat played as a middle-order batter last season as well. However, Rawat scored 91 runs which came at a strike rate of 128.16 in seven innings in IPL 2023. And, RCB was forced to field him in the XI due to Rajat Patidar’s unavailability and Dinesh Karthik’s poor run with the bat.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pathan said: “Absolutely, because the bowling is not as strong as it used to be, despite them having not won the tournament yet in so many years. So the batting will be the key, how they start and how they play in the middle overs as well.”You have got to keep an eye on that. We always talk about them being a batting superstars’ team. However, if Anuj Rawat is playing in the middle overs, is it really a superstar team? So that wasn’t the case.”

Irfan Pathan added that Cameron Green’s acquisition would help RCB’s batting in the upcoming season as well. However, he further added that the Australian all-rounder’s inclusion in the playing XI could be a team combination issue as they would be able to field only one overseas bowler as well. Sunil Gavaskar also shared his views on this.

“I think that is what would have disappointed them because he is such a good finisher and somehow he wasn’t quite able to deliver last year. But it could be one of those seasons. You have a bad season, so that could be the case as far as DK is concerned. He could come this time around and change it completely positively for RCB just when they need those extra 25-30 runs in say an over or two. With his experience, he certainly can do that,” Sunil Gavaskar said.