“We’re Focused On The Next Game, Not Table”: Assistant Coach Malolan Rangarajan Ahead Of RCB vs LSG Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday in Lucknow, with playoff hopes on the line. The IPL match will be held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, as RCB focuses on performance rather than points table calculations.

Assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan said the team remains focused on the immediate challenge. He stressed that players are not distracted by other results. He noted that the group must control only its own game against Lucknow Super Giants and avoid thinking about how the points table is shaping.

Malolan explained that discussions in the camp centre on steady improvement. He said RCB studies trends in the tournament and looks for chances to use them. According to him, the focus sits firmly on this next game, rather than distant scenarios or complex playoff calculations.

Asked about conditions in Lucknow and possible changes, Malolan said the staff will not alter combinations without reason. He pointed to Krunal Pandya’s recent form and mentioned Suyash Sharma as another option. He added that four pacers are available, giving flexibility based on the pitch.

Squad combinations and backing for Jitesh Sharma

On squad balance, Malolan said, “We don't fiddle too much with our combinations. We have Krunal Pandya, who's been doing very well for us, Suyash Sharma is another option, and then we have four pacers. We're happy with the way our squad is right now, and we'll try to adapt to what we see tomorrow.”

Malolan also backed wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma ahead of the match. He said, “Jitesh is a very sorted individual. He knows it's not by chance that he's played for the country and been part of IPL squads for so long. He played an integral part for us last year as well.”

Explaining the support around Jitesh, Malolan underlined clear roles in training. He said, “The messaging to Jitesh is that he's very aware of what he can do to help the team in any situation he goes into. That's all he's been focusing on, and that's what we've been trying to provide for him in training sessions, understanding the situations he's likely to go in and how he can impact the game for us.”