RCB look to breach fortress
Not much was expected of them at the start of the IPL6, but Rajasthan Royals have slowly but surely made the right noises this season. They are neither a unit full of stars, nor are they supremely talented much like some of their opponents. It is the collective acumen of the coaching staff and the ability of players to translate it on the field that has seen them perched among the top four consistently this season.
Winning matches — that too convincingly — at home has been their biggest strength and Rahul Dravid’s men will look to do the same on Monday afternoon when they face powerhouses Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here.
That the RCB had beaten them comprehensively 10 days ago on their home ground, is a thought that can be discounted given the Virat Kohli-led red and gold brigade have not managed to win a single away game this year.
Their 58-run loss to Mumbai Indians on Saturday night has put them in a state of bother and the team will look to buck the trend at the earliest. On paper, RCB are the team to beat. Orange Cap holder Chris Gayle has left most bowlers bamboozled, with a strike rate of 160 plus and 35 sixes in his nine games so far.
Kohli and A.B. de Villiers are in top form, while the presence of Ravi Rampaul and Tillakaratne Dilshan makes them an all-round unit.
For the hosts, Shane Watson is in blazing form while Dravid and Ajinkya Rahane have provided con- sistent starts. It is though the Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker, James Faulkner, who is relishing the thought of squaring up with Gayle on the morrow, a batsman he had dismissed during the Australia versus West Indies ODI series recently.
The Australian, who leads the IPL bowling charts with 16 scalps so far, had picked up four wickets during the Canberra ODI and a fine too for a “send-off ” gesture to Gayle.
“I am sure both of us are waiting for it!” Faulkner said.
Along with Faulkner, hosts’ Ajit Chandila, Siddharth Trivedi and Rahul Shukla add to the variety. But the bowlers, who have put up an admirable show so far, will have to come up with special plans on the morrow to keep the big guns silent.
The visiting bowling attack will be led by Vinay Kumar and R.P. Singh, while the return of left-arm spinner Murali Kartik from illness will be a boost.