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Teams – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Venue – M. Chinnasway Stadium, Bangalore
Start – 9th April, 1600 hrs IST
The two teams that gave us the most thrilling match of the IPL this season, clash again today. The battleground has shifted from Hyderabad to Bangalore. Not many had given the Sunrisers a chance before the season started but they have had an impressive start to their campaign and would be looking to build upon the initial success. RCB on the hand, would be licking their wounds and raring to return the favour.
RCB, though, have to set their batting unit in order. Their dependence on Gayle is well-known. He can single-handedly take the game away from the opposition but once he gets out early, the rest of the batting line-up fails to pose much of a threat. For the batting to fire, so should Gayle, or other batsmen in the squad need to put up a noteworthy display. Kohli might emerge as the front-runner in the list of those who can do that. He batted in a rather subdued fashion in the previous match against SRH. That could be attributed to the nature of the pitch as much as the realization to lead by example now that he is the captain.
There will be at least two players whose position will be up for debate. First up is Dilshan. He hasn’t really set the IPL stage ablaze and has had his problems against the moving ball. On a seamer-friendly track against a good quality bowling attack, his weaknesses might further be exposed. If AB de Villiers, who is returning today, is available for selection, he would likely replace Dilshan. Another batsman who has failed to make an impression is Karun Nair. In an effort to strengthen its middle order, RCB might bring in their million-dollar buy – Saurabh Tiwary. Another batsman who could get a look-in is the winner of the MA Chidambaram Award for the best Under-19 Cricketer in 2012 – Vijay Zol.
Like on his Test debut, Moises Henriques impressed everyone on his IPL debut as well. An innings of 44 followed by a spell of 2-14 in 3 overs was one of the highlighted performances in that match. His bowling will be all the more handy on the green Chinnaswamy track.
RCB’s batting line-up, irrespective of its composition will be put to test by the quality SRH attack. Steyn and Ishant form a formidable opening bowling pair and they will ask more questions of the batsmen in the helpful Bangalore conditions; all the more reason for the RCB think-tank to make the necessary changes in the batting line-up.
The bowling department on the other hand looks far more settled. Unadkat, Henriques and Vinay Kumar might not be of express pace but then, you don’t necessarily need pace to trouble the batsmen. They are bowlers capable of bowling in good areas and moving the ball at a decent pace. To back them up, you have quality spinners in Muralitharan and Kartik. In case any of these bowlers experience an off-day, Kohli can always summon Gayle to dart in a few.
Conditions:
The Chinnaswamy track is expected to sport a green top which will aid the seamers with the new ball. The spinners might not get a lot of turn but they will surely enjoy the bounce on the track. The outfield will be lightning quick and a 4 pm start means that dew might not be a very big factor in the match.
Players to watch out for:
Chris Gayle – With each passing innings, he’s reinforcing his tag of being the most destructive batsman in T20 cricket, and is one the cleanest hitters of the ball. If RCB have to be heavily reliant on someone, they couldn’t have chosen a better cricketer. His no-frills approach to the game lets him absorb the pressure of all such expectations. If in the first six overs he gets his eye in, it could be all over for SRH.
Virat Kohli – He is a natural stroke player and will enjoy the sporting Chinnaswamy track more than the sluggish Uppal wicket. The added responsibility of captaincy might just help him become a more responsible batsman. In either case, he can score runs at a quick pace given the gift of his timing and placement.
Moises Henriques – He is responsible with the bat, equipped with the ability to pace his innings. He is capable of lending solidity in case early wickets fall, and also in clearing the boundary in the end overs. His nippy bowling under helpful conditions make him a dangerous all-round player.
X Factor:
Dilshan/de Villiers – Either of the two who plays, is a match-winner on his day.
Strategy:
RCB will be looking to bat first and pose a big total. Ideally, they would want Gayle to fire. If he doesn’t, they would want Kohli and Dilshan/de Villiers to play a good innings. They will, then, back their seamers to exploit the conditions and spinners to bowl good lines and lengths to restrict the opposition. They have been bailed out a couple of times now by Vinay Kumar in the death overs, but wouldn’t want the match to get too close.
