It's a scenario nobody would probably have imagined at the start of IPL 2017. But going into their 10th game of the season; against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) here today, Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) famed batting line-up finds itself under real pressure
Royal Challengers Bangalore players. Pic/PTI
Royal Challengers Bangalore players. Pic/PTI
It's a scenario nobody would probably have imagined at the start of IPL 2017. But going into their 10th game of the season; against Rising Pune Supergiant at the MCA Stadium today, Royal Challengers Bangalore's famed batting line-up finds itself under real pressure.
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The batting unit that includes Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Virat Kohli, Kedar Jadhav in its ranks has failed to fire, which has eventually put the team in a must win situation from here on. Kohli's men have managed to cross the 160-run mark only twice in nine games (one game washed out), and that's probably one of the shocks of the season.
Rising Pune Supergiant, with bowling being their weak link, won't mind that at all. "Every team is dangerous. Anybody who can stand, can deliver. We will try our best to ensure that RCB stays in their current form and we win the match against team that is below us (on the points table)," said Supergiant all-rounder Rajat Bhatia.
The Supergiant managed to restrict Bangalore to 134 for 9 in the away fixtures, and would take some confidence from that performance. However, the pitch at Chinnaswamy has produced a lot of low-scoring games this season, while the Pune track has been quite opposite.
Stokes' importance
Supergiant will be hoping to see a fully fit Ben Stokes back in the starting XI, having missed their last game against KKR for "being sore". Stokes' absence made the bowling attack a bit below par, especially for this good batting track, against KKR.
"I hope he is fit. The physio will assess him after the nets and take a final call. We have to keep in mind that we need Stokes to be fit for the entire duration of the tournament," Bhatia said.
Stokes' "soreness" wasn't quite evident from the nets on Friday. The Supergiant usually have nets in two parts. First, the players who are unlikely to be in starting XI have a go for about couple of hours, followed by the big boys. Stokes was part of the first couple of hours' session on Friday, where he had a hit, followed by some high catches' practice.
Should Stokes not play, it will be interesting to see the composition of Supergiant's playing XI. They replaced Stokes with Faf du Plessis against KKR; the South African not getting the chance to bat. It meant The Supergiant were a bowler short. It won't be a bad idea for the team management to consider playing an extra bowler; pacer Lockie Ferguson or leggie Adam Zampa, to add to the bowling options.
Jadhav's homecoming
The last time he batted here, Kedar Jadhav scored a brilliant century against England in an ODI in January. And this talented right hander from Pune would be hoping for something similar, even if not a century, to turn around his team's fortunes
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