Series: Indian Premier League, 2016 Venue: Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali Date & Time: May 09, 08:00 PM LOCAL
RCB, Kings XI clash for fourth victory
SPORTZPICS/BCCI
RCB’s fielding has been messy with even regulation catches being
dropped. Here Sachin Baby fails to hold on to one in the match against
Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday.
A face-off involving Royal Challengers Bangalore and
Kings XI Punjab, the teams that presently bring up the rear in the
Indian Premier League, is set to lift the winner to the sixth spot with a
fourth victory of the season on Monday.
Surprisingly, these teams beat the odds on Saturday at home.
That
gives them reason to be upbeat after a series of dismal performances
that has left them with very little margin for error in the remainder of
their campaigns.
Virat Kohli-led RCB, more often
than not, has flattered to deceive this season. What can be said of a
team’s bowling that cannot defend targets in excess of 170, 180 and 190?
Indeed,
it is to RCB’s credit that in spite of Chris Gayle not firing, A.B. de
Villiers unable to maintain his early form and Shane Watson short of
contributing his best, its least total this season is 170!
However,
it is equally true that Kohli has come to believe that no matter how
big the team scores, its bowlers are capable of conceding a run more.
Messed up
RCB
has been generous in giving away boundary-deliveries during the first
six overs and the last five overs. When the bowlers are under the pump,
they have shown a tendency not to bowl to their field. Fielding, too,
has been consistently messy.
Dropping or even missing regulation catches and letting go run-out opportunities.
Missing specialist ’keeper
Another factor that has hit RCB seriously is the lack of a specialist wicketkeeper.
A non-regular ’keeper like K.L. Rahul cannot be blamed for missing stumping chances or crucial leg-side collections.
After all, Rahul’s capability when wearing the big gloves is far less honed than his proven skills with the bat.
As
a result, unless RCB improves its bowling and fielding, Kohli alone
cannot be expected to play match-winning innings day after day.
Defying law of averages
With
541 runs at an astounding average of 90.17, spread over eight innings,
Kohli is seriously defying the much-believed law of averages.
But
for RCB to win at least five times in its remaining six matches for a
place in the play-offs, some more names will have to perform to their
reputation.
Kings XI, too, has lost a few matches narrowly.
Most of its leading players have not fired consistently but bowlers are showing some improvements.
Overall, the battle between two optimistic teams fighting to stay alive in the competition promises to be a close one.
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