Kris Srikkanth Criticizes RCB's Abhinandan Singh After Defeat to Rajasthan Royals Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) decision to field Abhinandan Singh in their starting XI against Rajasthan Royals has drawn sharp criticism from former India opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who blamed the team’s poor selection for their first loss of the IPL 2026 season. Srikkanth, speaking on his YouTube channel, accused RCB of prioritizing a bowler who has struggled to contain runs over more effective alternatives, warning that the team’s struggles will persist as long as they continue to rely on Singh. The match, which saw RCB suffer a heavy defeat, highlighted Singh’s inability to perform under pressure. The uncapped right-arm pacer from Uttar Pradesh conceded 54 runs in his three-over spell, failing to contain the Rajasthan Royals’ explosive batting lineup. Key contributors to RCB’s downfall were 15-year-old phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and in-form opener Dhruv Jurel, who exploited Singh’s wayward lengths and loose deliveries. Srikkanth described Singh as a “run feeder,” emphasizing that his inclusion in the top XI has only exacerbated RCB’s bowling woes. “RCB are playing this Abhinandan, who is just a run feeder. Until they play him, they’ll suffer,” Srikkanth said. “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 further criticized RCB’s management for overlooking more reliable options in their squad. Despite having experienced players like Mangesh Yadav and Rasikh Salam available, the team opted to stick with Singh, a choice Srikkanth called a “big blunder.#ipl_2026 #rajasthan_royals #rcb #kris_srikkanth #abhinandan_singh
IPL 2026: Why Are RCB Playing Abhinandan Singh Before Rasikh Salam & Mangesh Yadav? Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have opted to include uncapped pacer Abhinandan Singh in their playing XI for the first three matches of IPL 2026, despite retaining more expensive domestic fast bowlers Rasikh Salam and Mangesh Yadav. This decision has sparked discussions among cricket analysts, as Abhinandan, retained at his base price of INR 30 lakh, has been preferred over the two younger players who were acquired through the IPL 2026 mini-auction at INR 6 crore and INR 5.20 crore respectively. The inclusion of Abhinandan in the initial lineup follows the withdrawal of pacer Yash Dayal from the tournament due to personal reasons. RCB’s management faced the challenge of filling the void left by Dayal, leading them to select Abhinandan, who has emerged as a key bowler in their early matches. Despite his relatively low cost compared to Salam and Yadav, the team has prioritized his availability and recent performances over the more expensive options. Abhinandan’s rise to the playing XI can be attributed to his standout performances during pre-season training sessions. In intra-squad matches, he showcased his potential by dismissing Virat Kohli, a feat that caught the attention of the coaching staff. The 23-year-old right-arm pacer, hailing from Uttar Pradesh, made his IPL debut in 2026 for RCB after representing the Lucknow Falcons in the UP T20 League. His ability to consistently take wickets has been a significant factor in his selection. In the first three games of the tournament, Abhinandan has taken three wickets across three matches, including a two-wicket haul in one game.#ipl_2026 #royal_challengers_bengaluru #mangesh_yadav #abhinandan_singh #rasikh_salam
Just a Run-Feeder… Until They Play Him, They’ll Suffer – Ex-India Cricketer Slams RCB’s Abhinandan Singh After Costly Outing vs RR Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth has publicly criticized Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) decision to include fast bowler Abhinandan Singh in their playing XI during their match against Rajasthan Royals (RR), which resulted in the defending champions’ first loss of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. Srikkanth, who is a respected figure in Indian cricket, accused RCB of making a strategic error by relying on the uncapped right-arm pacer, whose performance has been consistently poor. The 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and left-handed batsman Dhruv Jurel targeted Singh during the match, exploiting his lack of control and accuracy. Abhinandan, who made his IPL debut in the season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad, has struggled to make an impact for RCB. In his three appearances so far, he has managed to take only three wickets while conceding nearly 13 runs per over. His performance against RR in Guwahati was particularly damaging, as he leaked 54 runs in just three overs. Srikkanth described Singh as a “run-feeder” and warned that RCB would continue to suffer as long as they fielded him. “RCB are playing this Abhinandan, who is just a run feeder. Until they play him, they’ll suffer,” he said on his YouTube channel. Srikkanth also highlighted the poor bowling conditions faced by RCB’s fast bowlers, noting that even established players like Mitchell Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were expensive in their early overs due to the aggressive approach of Sooryavanshi and Jurel. Only Krunal Pandya, the team’s all-rounder, managed to bowl effectively, providing a rare moment of relief for RCB.#rajasthan_royals #virat_kohli #royal_challengers_bengaluru #kris_srikkanth #abhinandan_singh
