Prometheus - 05 April 2010 05:02 PM

Guys, why are you missing the point?

NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME ITSELF!!!!!! Been crying myself hoarse since morning (check http://www.royalchallengers.com/ee/index.php/forum/viewthread/487/)

I tend to agree with Bilal’s final eleven, except maybe one or two names.

Frankly, I’m baffled at the changes we made to the team for the match against Delhi Daredevils. What was the need to tinker with the opening combination? Manish Pandey must be asking himself what wrong he’s done to sit out, in spite of showing good form and providing impetus every innings as an opener. Sending White as opener is really a perplexing move. He’s perfect for No.3.

We’ve stopped winning matches since the day we started making too many changes to the team. Yesterday’s was a crucial match and the loss last night means we need to win at least 3 out of the remaining 5 matches to make sure we make it to semis. My ideal playing Eleven would be:

1) J.Kallis
2) M.Pandey
3) K.Pietersen
4) R.Uthappa
5) R.Taylor
6) V.Kohli
7) Vinay Kumar
8) P.Kumar
9) A.Mithun
10) D.Steyn
11) A.Kumble

As far as Dravid’s inclusion is concerned - No one is forgetting the legend called Dravid. He will be mentioned in cricketing history books as a hero forever.

But, my point is - NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE GAME ITSELF. Based on current form and available team options, it’s better if we play the same winning Eleven that’s winning RCB its’ matches. Period!!

Would you rather have Dravid score 50 runs off 30 balls and RCB lose the match or have a Kallis score 65 off 53 balls and RCB win the match? I mean ... c’mon man…look at it realistically!!

Believe me, if only Dravid could answer this question himself, I’m sure he’d say as long as the team has a winning combination and is winning all matches, he’d rather be part of a winning team and not play, than play for the team and impact its’ balance. Get my point?

And yet again……Dravid is one of my favorite sports persons. I met him when I was in still in school during an India - England test match series. Had the opportunity to shake hands with him. I didn’t wash my hands for about 2-3 days after that just because Dravid had touched it. No Kidding!!!

Point being…...keep the team first, my brother .... ALWAYS ...... then come the soldiers!!!!!!!

And another reason I think it’s better to play Kallis than Dravid is this: Kallis has had a hit in all the matches that RCB has played in IPL-3 and frankly, hehas mostly done a good job of it. Considering his role in the team is to anchor the innings, a strike rate of 120/125 isn’t bad, when guys at the other end are belting at 150/180.

Don’t forget that after Uthappa acored a quick fire 47 against, Kings XI Punjab, it was Kallis’ sixers that took us home while chasing 203 and brought the momentum into the team, which helped us win 4 straight games.

hey varun how can u remove appana . he proved himself by bowling brilliantly yesterday. then how can u remove him. and Abhimanyu Mithun gave 39 runs in just 3 overs (ecnomy-13.50) then why on earth should we select him

crazyrcbfreakfan - 05 April 2010 05:13 PM

hey varun how can u remove appana . he proved himself by bowling brilliantly yesterday. then how can u remove him. and Abhimanyu Mithun gave 39 runs in just 3 overs (ecnomy-13.50) then why on earth should we select him

Yup, that’s a good call out. Might be a good idea to give K P Appanna another chance instead of Praveen. He seemed to have a good head while bowling last night. But in case we need some last minute belting from the lower order, PK can be useful. That’s my thought.

As far as Mithun’s concerned, one match isn’t fair enough to discard him. Dale Steyn got ‘kolted’ in the first couple of matches, but we stuck with him, didn’t we? And he doesn’t have too many variations. Mithun, on the other hand has a very useful and deceptive slower delivery. But for his bad luck, Collingwood went insane last evening…..!!!!

Once again, my only point is, let’s not unecessarily make too many changes in the team. We’ll kill our own momentum!!!

I still stand by the playing Eleven that i quoted above!!!!

f

varun I just now read ur comment and was baffled. u selected mithun even though he gave 39 runs in 3 overs. and dropped appana when he gave only 24 runs of 4 overs.
@sunil.. van de mer we is not a guy who can bowl miserly so its no use picking him. and you have selected 5 overseas players whereas only 4 can be selected .@redhot ya players like bhuvanesh kumar should have been given chances but now its too late. it is the initial stages of the tournament and the team can’t afford to take risks like yesterdays match. @rcb rajath.  kallis was the one who was holding the innings other wise rcb would have fell cheaply. @rahulsan. i didn’t want rahul because we already have long batting line up.  and there is no need for an additional batsmen

quote]
But in case we need some last minute belting from the lower order, PK can be useful. That’s my thought.

As far as Mithun’s concerned, one match isn’t fair enough to discard him. Dale Steyn got ‘kolted’ in the first couple of matches, but we stuck with him, didn’t we? And he doesn’t have too many variations. Mithun, on the other hand has a very useful and deceptive slower delivery. But for his bad luck, Collingwood went insane last evening…..!!!!

Once again, my only point is, let’s not unecessarily make too many changes in the team. We’ll kill our own momentum!!!
I still stand by the playing Eleven that i quoted above!!!![/

i mean why do we need last minute hitting . when there is such a strong batting line up. rarely will it reach the tail enders

@Prometheus -if we select the team you have listed than..i’m 100% sure that we will have one more defeat…you have listed same team which has already lost 2 matches against csk & dd. 
Kallis record in last few matches.
1)he scored 52 against chennai from 49 balls..what the hell consistency is this man…if kallis is playing around 9 overs & scorng only 49…then wat will others player do.
2)we won aginst punjab bcoz kallis got runout @ 9…if he stayed for another 10 overs..i’m very much sure that we would have lost against punjab..thanks to uthappa for his brilliant knock.
3)we lost against delhi bcoz of kallis,& kp…..i agree that kallis scored 50+ but who wants his 50 ,bcoz he stayed till last we lost the game.
Please kuble & rcb management team .drop kallis & kp
Batting order should be
1)Pandey
2)Kohli
3)Uthappa
4)Ross
5)white
6)Dravid
7)Praveen
8)Merve
9)Vinay
10)Kumble
11)Steyn

Dude, I can totally understand your mindset ...... after seeing that you’ve selected Van Der Merve. I mean ....... you do have a sense of humour!!!

I still can’t forget the match during Champions League when Van Der Mereve went out to bat, fell all around the pitch for 5 balls, and got out out on the 6th.

As far as Kallis is concerned, you might want to get your facts right, my brother!!! The match that we won against Kings XI….that brough momentum into the team….Kallis sored 89 not out from 55 balls, including 5 sixes and 8 fours.

I mean….look at it this way. His job in the team is clear…he’s got to play the role of an anchor. If he holds up one end for 15-16 overs, scoring runs at a strike rate of 125-130 (this is his current strike rate this IPL), while guys at the other end score at 150-180, then what more can you ask from him???

Tendulkar, the fantastic form that he’s in, himself is scoring consistently at a strike rate of 140, which is not very far ahead of Kallis. If you still haven’t realised this fact, then either you are watching just the highlights of the matches or are aren’t paying enough attention to details.

In any case, I’m guessing your playing Eleven will still win, compared to mine because you’ve chosen a stalwart like Merve in your team. And secondly, you propose to open with Kohli and Pandey…..yet another new (untested) opening partnership for RCB this season after forgetting the fact that most of the times we’ve tinkered with our opening combo, we’ve failed to score runs fast.

I rest my case!!!!

kohli also could be a good opener
hope to see him open tommorow