'You either fear it.... or become a superstar': Shane Bond’s blunt message to bowlers after loss to GT
Rajasthan Royals bowling coach Shane Bond admitted his team was "not good enough" after a heavy home defeat to Gujarat Titans. He highlighted the toll of a hectic schedule and stressed the need for bowlers to evolve in the current T20 era. The Royals' playoff hopes are now under severe pressure following their seventh loss in eight home matches.
Shane Bond has admitted that Rajasthan Royals were simply “not good enough” after another disappointing home defeat, this time against Gujarat Titans, while also stressing that modern-day bowlers must continue evolving in an increasingly batter-dominated T20 era. RR’s struggles in Jaipur continued as they suffered their seventh defeat in their last eight matches at the venue dating back to last season. Gujarat Titans’ opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan dominated the Royals’ bowling attack and powered GT to another massive 220-plus total, leaving RR with an uphill chase that eventually ended in a heavy defeat.
Speaking after the match, Bond admitted the Royals lacked sharpness after a hectic stretch of fixtures and failed to rise to the occasion in a crucial game for their playoff hopes. "It was a disappointing performance from us. This was a really big game for us, with both games on the same points.
Have not seen the table in terms of net run-rate, but we will have to win two of our last three or maybe all three to make it through the playoffs. The five games we had every three days, I think we were pretty banged up after that. We were not quite as sharp," he said.
Bond also acknowledged the struggles of Shimron Hetmyer, who has endured a disappointing IPL season despite arriving in strong form after an impressive T20 World Cup campaign. "Hettie (Hetmyer) would be first one to admit that he did not get the runs that he would have liked. But that is the nature of the game.