48/2(v/s KTK) , 24/2 (MI), 28/3 (DC), 33/3 (CSK)- these are the scores made by RCB within the powerplay and opposing team's bowling looks more dangerous everytime.This has been the sorry story so far for RCB .A problem lies in there, the young Mayank partnered by Dilshan do not seem to enjoy each other's company and provide a solid platform for the batting to follow and their partnerships have been registered in single digits hitherto - 7 in 12 balls , 0 in 1 , 8 in 12 , 1 in 2. And keep in mind these have been the partnerships while team had to maintain an asking rate of around 8 often while chasing.The batting line-up even though studded with players of different moulds and talent , bow down to this asking rate and get shackled by the pressure.Most of you reading would agree with me , the RCB team faced the same issue during their debut IPL season.
The game demands a swashbuckling batsman at the top of the order to kick off the momentum and on a consistent basis.Dilshan is a good candidate for this role but he has failed to do it so far.Cheeky and dashing in this role for his national side , he has been pale compared to his world cup form.Apart from a sluggish 59 off 52 against Mumbai , his contribution has been minimal and the striking rate of around 100 (before the KKR match) is poor in this format.Even his bowling has been anything but expensive ,maybe the continual playing without rest being the reason.And Mayank cannot even be blamed , considering he has no prior experience and his age.Moving onto one down ,Virat Kohli , being touted as a future captain , had a sedate start but he has gathered momentum and tuned in good performances over the last 2 games(71 @ 140SR, 35 @ 125).But he is no player to dominate an attack from the word go but its heartening to note his gumption for a fight.And the other shining light being AB who won the first game with a belligerent 54.But the above mentioned performances have been independent and in defeated causes.They have not been able to combine well , one failing while the other clicks. There is not much to speak about the other batsmen , S Tiwary has not been able add power down the order and Pujara , in my opinion is best suited higher up the order.
What next ? Ruffle up the batting order, change something and lo the pinch hitter theory but that never worked , with Zaheer(really!!) and Asad Pathan( hope this guy doesnt fade out) being sent earlier to beef up the powerplay score.I think they missed a plot here by not testing Saurabh Tiwary at that position.Powerplay hitting doesnt necessarily mean ugly slogging , it calls for the basic techniques as a batsman such as placement and timing,look at Tendulkar.And Tiwary shone at this very position while playing for Mumbai.People might argue here that he blossomed under the auspices of Sachin , and Dilshan might not be the right person to shoulder the responsibility of guiding , honing and encouraging the younger partner up the order.Digressing, in future this should be a must for a senior opening batsman , and it can be advantageous too when the apprentice performs and takes some pressure of the senior.
Summing up the woes - the batting looked constrained.But woah , what a solution the RCB have found - in the form of Christopher Henry Gayle! a.k.a Da Predator (his dreadlocks give him that Predator-look).He may not be hunting down humans and dismembering them but he definitely is hell bent on mauling the bowlers with the characteristic but apparent Jamaican laziness and cool.Its been - He came,He smashed , he smiled his pearly whites.His alienic power to send the cricketing ball across the universe has been well recorded but it came to fore against KKR while scoring 102 off paltry 54 balls.He played and toyed around with supreme confidence , all the while making a point to the west Indies cricket board. Well the West Indies' loss is RCB's gain.Apart from being the aggressor which RCB needed he is a solution in more than one way.The batting line-up is uni-dimensional with only Tiwary being the only left handed batsman until Gayle joined the team.Add to that he can contribute with his wily off spin and he pulled off an athletic catch to dismiss the KKR captain Gautam Gambhir.
But the RCB's shortcomings doesnt end with Gayle's coming, the bowling performances warrant improvements and changes , well that will make for another analysis.The team is not as balanced as it seems and Daniel let the beard stay on for now.But for now The Royal Challengers have been successful in moving out of the losing rut and look ahead to the encounter with Delhi DareDevils.Let the drinks flow and hey DJ! play some Stir it Up.
The game demands a swashbuckling batsman at the top of the order to kick off the momentum and on a consistent basis.Dilshan is a good candidate for this role but he has failed to do it so far.Cheeky and dashing in this role for his national side , he has been pale compared to his world cup form.Apart from a sluggish 59 off 52 against Mumbai , his contribution has been minimal and the striking rate of around 100 (before the KKR match) is poor in this format.Even his bowling has been anything but expensive ,maybe the continual playing without rest being the reason.And Mayank cannot even be blamed , considering he has no prior experience and his age.Moving onto one down ,Virat Kohli , being touted as a future captain , had a sedate start but he has gathered momentum and tuned in good performances over the last 2 games(71 @ 140SR, 35 @ 125).But he is no player to dominate an attack from the word go but its heartening to note his gumption for a fight.And the other shining light being AB who won the first game with a belligerent 54.But the above mentioned performances have been independent and in defeated causes.They have not been able to combine well , one failing while the other clicks. There is not much to speak about the other batsmen , S Tiwary has not been able add power down the order and Pujara , in my opinion is best suited higher up the order.
What next ? Ruffle up the batting order, change something and lo the pinch hitter theory but that never worked , with Zaheer(really!!) and Asad Pathan( hope this guy doesnt fade out) being sent earlier to beef up the powerplay score.I think they missed a plot here by not testing Saurabh Tiwary at that position.Powerplay hitting doesnt necessarily mean ugly slogging , it calls for the basic techniques as a batsman such as placement and timing,look at Tendulkar.And Tiwary shone at this very position while playing for Mumbai.People might argue here that he blossomed under the auspices of Sachin , and Dilshan might not be the right person to shoulder the responsibility of guiding , honing and encouraging the younger partner up the order.Digressing, in future this should be a must for a senior opening batsman , and it can be advantageous too when the apprentice performs and takes some pressure of the senior.
Summing up the woes - the batting looked constrained.But woah , what a solution the RCB have found - in the form of Christopher Henry Gayle! a.k.a Da Predator (his dreadlocks give him that Predator-look).He may not be hunting down humans and dismembering them but he definitely is hell bent on mauling the bowlers with the characteristic but apparent Jamaican laziness and cool.Its been - He came,He smashed , he smiled his pearly whites.His alienic power to send the cricketing ball across the universe has been well recorded but it came to fore against KKR while scoring 102 off paltry 54 balls.He played and toyed around with supreme confidence , all the while making a point to the west Indies cricket board. Well the West Indies' loss is RCB's gain.Apart from being the aggressor which RCB needed he is a solution in more than one way.The batting line-up is uni-dimensional with only Tiwary being the only left handed batsman until Gayle joined the team.Add to that he can contribute with his wily off spin and he pulled off an athletic catch to dismiss the KKR captain Gautam Gambhir.
But the RCB's shortcomings doesnt end with Gayle's coming, the bowling performances warrant improvements and changes , well that will make for another analysis.The team is not as balanced as it seems and Daniel let the beard stay on for now.But for now The Royal Challengers have been successful in moving out of the losing rut and look ahead to the encounter with Delhi DareDevils.Let the drinks flow and hey DJ! play some Stir it Up.
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