Bowling key in battle of heavyweights
Whether Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are still smarting under Suresh Raina’s batting would be crucial to the outcome of their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) here on Sunday.
“The momentum shifts quickly in the IPL, so you just have to keep doing your routine,” said KKR bowling coach L Balaji when asked how difficult it would be to live down Friday’s loss.
A bowling attack that punched below its weight will have to deliver against a team that perhaps has heavier batting artillery. Step forward Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson and Kedar Jadhav.
That KKR’S batsmen too are among runs could make this a battle between batting heavyweights.
De Villiers didn’t play against Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB’S last game four days ago, because of injury but Yuzvendra Chahal said here on Saturday that he should be available. Even without De Villiers, RCB amassed 213/2, the highest in the competition going into Saturday’s matches.
It was a Chris Gayle-virat Kohli joint-venture that may have helped RCB put their batting blues --- the reason for three of their four losses --- behind them.
Such is the appeal of a Gaylekohli show with AB providing the garnishing that the Eden, which averaged around 55,000 so far, is likely to have its best turnout this term. Gayle’s 56-ball 96 made a target of 178 look easy here in 2015. In 2011, Gayle scored 102 here in 55 balls with 10 fours and seven sixes that helped RCB overhaul 171 with 11 balls to
spare.
PLAYING WITH FREEDOM
“We don’t become a bad bowling unit after just one game. RCB are down in the table, and they also will be looking for some form. Hopefully, we can use that in our favour.
The boys are playing with freedom and playing well,” said Jacques Kallis, the KKR head coach after Friday’s loss to the Gujarat Lions. To that Balaji added on Saturday evening that KKR have done well getting wickets. They have taken 38 in six games, the second-highest till Friday’s games after Sunrisers Hyderabad (44). RCB have bagged 36.