3rd defeat in a row: Time to rejuvenate
5th over. Mike Hussey on an humble 8! A dolly was missed by Mohd Kaif at long off. Eventually, that drop cost Team Royal Challengers the match. Hussey stroked to a matchwinning unbeaten 83 and the Chennai Super Kings score to 184, to which Team RC fell short by 21 reply in reply and slumped to their third defeat in a row.
5th over. Mike Hussey on an humble 8! A dolly was missed by Mohd Kaif at long off. Eventually, that drop cost Team Royal Challengers the match. Hussey stroked to a matchwinning unbeaten 83 and the Chennai Super Kings score to 184, to which Team RC fell short by 21 reply in reply and slumped to their third defeat in a row.
Even if one assumes that dropping catches could be a part of the game, it was another mistake to with-hold the best batsman of the team (in this IPL), AB de Villiers, till the fifth over. By then, Team RC was already 3 wickets down with only 31 runs on board and the pressure trebled. Even Virat Kohli, another dependable was made to bat at number 4 which perhaps unsettled the order in the mind more than on the ground.
Team RC floundered in these two crucial areas today which could have been avoided. The disciplined start in bowling was undone by some sloppy fielding which also led to some extra runs to the CSK kitty. In turn, those runs returned as demons as fielding proved to be a big differentiator in the match as CSK save quiet a few being electric on the field. The burgeoning pressure meant more risks to be taken and thus providing more opportunity to the opposition. Kohli fell prey to the pressure and eventually de Villiers, who was having a brilliant run, was left without any stable partner. He was waging a lone battle and if only he had a support at the other end, the outcome of the match could have been different.
Team RC now faces the daunting task of winning quiet a few matches in the first round itself to go up the ladder. Its an uphill task but not at all an impossible one. In previous IPL, Team RC had lost four matches on the trot before reaching the finals. If it could be done earlier, it can surely be done this time too. The team needs a face lift, an impetus, a favourable wave which will glide them through the rough waters and to the shore. Rough waters like three spots in the bowling department. The think tank is surely missing the services of Dirk Nannes, who is still nursing his side strain. Zaheer, without a partner in the middle, is left stranded alone in the pace department, only to be supported by skipper Daniel Vettori at the other end. But the rest 12 overs are bleeding profusely, which is surely emerging as a big worry.
The other worry may be the form of Dilshan. His solidity at the start is necessary for the team to get that impetus. However, it takes one good innings from players like Dilshan to get into the groove and continue with it. Team RC may just be hoping for that.
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Virat is abetter bowler than him.
we should pick up local talents.
Its time to give Langeveldt a chance. Agreed he's 36, but he's very effective. He's also a handy lower order bat. We need to do that at least till Nannes is fit again. Zak is an automatic choice. Since Vettori bowls left arm spin, we could use Ninan as the second spinner. Depending on the wicket we can then opt for either a 3rd medium pacer or 3rd spinner.
I'm no expert, but this is the kind of combination that most teams have. I do believe that RCB does not have any dearth of talent. It is just a matter of execution when the time comes.
Thank you so much for reading, since this is a very long one. Go RCB! You can do it!