Published: Apr 19, 2013, 12:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 19, 2013, 12:36 PM (IST)
Except for the loss against Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals have won their matches comfortably, including the match against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders © PTI
By BD Narayankar
Bangalore: Apr 19, 2013
A tough challenge awaits Royal Challengers Bangalore when they take on Rajasthan Royals in a battle of table toppers in the Indian Premier League match at Bangalore on Saturday.
RCB are undefeated in the four matches they have played at home this season it would be huge game for them against the Royals who are on a roll after four wins in five outings and after a comprehensive victory over Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.
Except for the loss against the underdogs Pune Warriors, the Royals have won their matches comfortably, including against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Jaipur-based team led by Rahul Dravid, incidentally a Banglorean, would like to be at the sole lead position with a win on Saturday. They are now on same eight points with the RCB.
With a massive 86-run win against the Mumbai Indians at home on Wednesday, the Royals, the title winners in the inaugural IPL season, would be quite eager to maintain their winning streak.
One thing that separates the two teams though is the talented and performing Indian players in the Royals side.
Ajinkya Rahane, Dravid along with S Sreesanth and Sidharth Trivedi have been the most successful batsmen and bowlers in the tournament so far.
In-form RCB batsmen Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and A B de Villiers would be up against the likes of Sreesanth, Trivedi and wily Kevin Cooper.
The home fans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium would be eager to watch the battle between Gayle and temperamental Sreesanth, who is expected to take the field on Saturday for the first time after reopening the ‘slapgate’ wounds with his explosive tweets.
RCB have Gayle, captain Kohli and de Villiers, who can take the battle to the opposition camp. Gayle has had a couple of match-winning knocks and RCB would be depending a lot on Kohli also in batting.
However, other Indian players like Mayank Agarwal, Lokesk Rahul and Karun Nair have not come to the party, the weakest of links for the hosts.
The home side have also struggled to find a partner for Gayle at the top. The ploy to send Agarwal and Rahul to open with the explosive West Indian has not worked. The RCB think-tank may give Sri Lankan Tillakaratne Dilshan a go once again, depending upon playing conditions.
The Royals, on the other hand, have not depended too much on one individual, theirs have been a collective effort to script victories.
An interesting battle may unfold between Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, if he gets into the playing eleven, and Royals batsmen.
The rival captains have led their respective sides admirably well and from the front too with fine batting performances.
Dravid has also done a bit of experiment with his side like fielding five bowlers on an Indian pitch, against Kolkata Knight Riders in Jaipur on April 8.
