IPL 2024, RR vs LSG Strategic Corner - How can RR Encounter the Threat of Ravi Bishnoi?

Ravi Bishnoi will be a key playe for the LSG in the match [X]

The Rajasthan Royals will play the Lucknow Supergiants in the fourth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The league's first-ever champions will be looking to get off to a good start and solidify their claim to their second IPL title. 

This game will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The match is a day game, and thus, the spinners are expected to play a significant role in deciding the game's fate. But irrespective of the toss and when they bowl, one of the key players for LSG will be Ravi Bishnoi. He is a genuine wicket-taker and can change the complexion of a game with his guile and deception. 

The Rajasthan Royals must successfully negotiate Ravi Bishnoi's spell to emerge triumphant from this game. In this article, we will decode Bishnoi while looking at the areas and the variations he bowled in IPL 2023. 

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Why Ravi Bishnoi will be a threat to Rajasthan Royals?

• Ravi Bishnoi is brilliantly efficient in the middle overs. He has an economy of just 7.74 in this phase and a strike rate of 18.9. This is the phase where economical bowling alongside wickets tilts the game in favour of a team, and Bishnoi is just the candidate for this. 
• The middle-order of the Rajasthan Royals will largely depend on the likes of Rovman Powell and Shimron Hetmyer. West Indian batters are infamously weak against wrist spinners; thus, Bishnoi emerges as a significant threat. 
• Bishnoi uses his googly significantly, making him an even more dangerous bowler. Rajasthan will need someone like Yashasvi or Sanju Samson in the middle-overs. If the LSG bowling attack can eliminate these two batters early, Bishnoi will take little time to bring down curtains on the RR batting lineup. 

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What is the general plan of Bishnoi? 

A look at Bishnoi's bowling in IPL 2023 gives us the idea that he prefers to keep it at the good length area and outside the off stump. He uses his googly mainly and then surprises the batter with the leg spinner. 

Table - Line and length of Ravi Bishnoi in IPL 2023 

If the Royals' batter is looking to play him as a typical leg spinner who will fight and try to get the ball away from the batter most of the time, they will be outfoxed. The best bet for the RR batters will be to play straight and down the ground, mostly trying to negotiate him off the front foot primarily. 

Table - Variations used by Ravi Bishnoi in IPL 2023

If the Royals can play him out with minimal damage, then LSG will be on the back foot, and then the home team can seize the momentum from there.