Rejuvenated Challengers Ready to Strike Again
By Vikram Afzulpurkar
Practice at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Thursday night, 5th May 2011, saw various activities. Assistant Coach Jono told wicket keeper Gautham to take deliberate one handed catches but he’d already made him breathless. Chris Gayle in the meantime was making everybody breathless firing Stinger missiles into cyberspace. Don’t think any enemy’s capable of designing the famous Patriot to counter that!
By Vikram Afzulpurkar
Practice at the Chinnaswamy stadium on Thursday night, 5th May 2011, saw various activities. Assistant Coach Jono told wicket keeper Gautham to take deliberate one handed catches but he’d already made him breathless. Chris Gayle in the meantime was making everybody breathless firing Stinger missiles into cyberspace. Don’t think any enemy’s capable of designing the famous Patriot to counter that!
RC Talent Scout Vijay Bharadwaj watched as other batsmen in their respective nets also launched some high (nets were on the edge of the ground making them close to the stands) hooks onto the roof. The next few seconds would be spent waiting for the ball to fall back into the grounds by sheer luck but otherwise, listening to its distant sound on the rooftops getting more and more distant and lower, meaning it was dropping down on the outside of the stadium. All the spare fielders (local cricketers) were pressed into service to ensure they relayed the correct messages to other ground staff who tried to retrieve the ball. Correction. Balls!
In the meantime, Jono fired a round of twenty five quick catches to Gautham who hurried from side to side and held most of them. Ray Jennings seemed a little irritated that the people who’d been employed to clean parts of the ground put away their work and piled up behind Chris Gayle’s net.
Ray decided he’d watch the proceedings from the same place where this staff had gathered unscheduled. He’d continue his observation while also ensuring none of the staff came too close. Theo, part of the protection force, soon made his presence felt and reminded the lot that they should not come too near. They promptly went about their other chores. However, one could sense the passion from all quarters of the Indian populace. It’s true that India has the potential to come to a standstill when their stars come out to play!
Arun Karthik, yet to feature in a match this season, stood guard behind a single stump while Nuwan Pradeep, Charl Langeveldt and other quickies send down their fast stuff. Mithun appeared to be padding up behind and although reasonably safe was in the firing line in case a ball, by bad luck, happened evaded Karthik. Someone soon motioned him to move away. Wise!
Mithun seems to be batting regularly, on the advice of the coach of course. Seems Ray’s not prepared to risk anything should there be a need for their lower order to save the day or at least bolster the innings. Everybody seemed to be working overtime. That included Siddhartha Mallya who visited the gym in the evening and had a massively stretched workout. “Tired of running, so told my trainer to make me do weights,” exclaimed the owner of the franchise who three weeks ago ran the London Marathon.
The green fever has caught on. The players want to continue their good form. One hopes they play the match of 6th May against Kings XI Punjab with the passion of the earlier ones. A good prelude to the ‘green match’ of 8th May against Kochi Tuskers Kerala, the RC boys will aim to play for a cause.
That the Tuskers have won two games in a row against strong oppositions will not bother the Bangalore bravehearts. They have a balanced side which is coming good and not to mention good bench strength some tested while others waiting to strike a first blow for this elite franchise. But first, they take on a beleaguered Punjab side led by Adam Gilchrist. Fans, back Royal Challengers as you usually do.
Click on the ‘I support RCB campaign’ at http://www.royalchallengers.com/. Every click will earn a rupee towards the renovation of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the home of Royal Challengers Bangalore
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