It’s heartening to see reigning champions Deccan Chargers finally getting their bearings right. And now they look a potent force, having clocked two wins on the trot. As Gilchrist and Co had comprehensively beaten Royal Challengers in their own den in the last encounter, they would go into this match with a psychological edge at their surrogate home ground, Nagpur.
Deccan Chargers
Interestingly, Tirumalasetti Suman’s batting form has coincided with the team’s change in fortune. Batting at no. 3, he carved out two half-centuries that were in the winning cause. Against an opposition like Bangalore, Suman’s role will again be crucial.
Captain Gilchrist would love to take a leaf out of his junior’s book and hit the straps against a formidable side like Royal Challengers. However, the intriguing form of Rohit Sharma is another riddle the team needs to fix.
In a crucial match where a win could potentially decide the team’s entry to semis, the captain would do well to bring back either Herschelle Gibbs or VVS Laxman even though they haven’t been in good nick. As they say, class is permanent.
Ryan Harris has been hitting the deck nicely and picking up wickets as well and that should come handy against Bangalore’s reputed batting line-up. The duo of Harris and RP Singh will have to keep pecking at the top order to restrict the opposition to run away with the match. Pragyan Ojha, who is the leading wicket taker, has been doing a splendid job during the middle overs and he should pose a challenge to Bangalore batsmen.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Deccans must be rankling in the collective consciousness of the team. It can either become a mental block or spur the team to settle the score. With a team as resourceful as Bangalore, the latter is more likely.
However, one wonders why change an opening combination of Jacques Kallis and Manish Pandey that has done well in the past.
The middle order has too much of class and substance to fail too often. However, it would be important not to hit the panic button if they lose early wickets.
The bowling quartet have done exceedingly well with captain Kumble leading from the front. Dale Steyn and Vinay Kumar have often wrecked batting line with their speed and guile and would be looking forward to carry on their good job.
Teams (Probable Eleven):
Deccan Chargers: Monish Mishra/VVS Laxman, Adam Gilchrist (capt-wk), T Suman, Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds, Dwayne Smith/Herschelle Gibbs, B Sumanth, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ryan Harris, Harmeet Singh
Royal Challengers Bangalore: S Sriram, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa (wk), Ross Taylor, Cameron White, Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble (capt), Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn
Deccan Chargers
Interestingly, Tirumalasetti Suman’s batting form has coincided with the team’s change in fortune. Batting at no. 3, he carved out two half-centuries that were in the winning cause. Against an opposition like Bangalore, Suman’s role will again be crucial.
Captain Gilchrist would love to take a leaf out of his junior’s book and hit the straps against a formidable side like Royal Challengers. However, the intriguing form of Rohit Sharma is another riddle the team needs to fix.
In a crucial match where a win could potentially decide the team’s entry to semis, the captain would do well to bring back either Herschelle Gibbs or VVS Laxman even though they haven’t been in good nick. As they say, class is permanent.
Ryan Harris has been hitting the deck nicely and picking up wickets as well and that should come handy against Bangalore’s reputed batting line-up. The duo of Harris and RP Singh will have to keep pecking at the top order to restrict the opposition to run away with the match. Pragyan Ojha, who is the leading wicket taker, has been doing a splendid job during the middle overs and he should pose a challenge to Bangalore batsmen.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Deccans must be rankling in the collective consciousness of the team. It can either become a mental block or spur the team to settle the score. With a team as resourceful as Bangalore, the latter is more likely.
However, one wonders why change an opening combination of Jacques Kallis and Manish Pandey that has done well in the past.
The middle order has too much of class and substance to fail too often. However, it would be important not to hit the panic button if they lose early wickets.
The bowling quartet have done exceedingly well with captain Kumble leading from the front. Dale Steyn and Vinay Kumar have often wrecked batting line with their speed and guile and would be looking forward to carry on their good job.
Teams (Probable Eleven):
Deccan Chargers: Monish Mishra/VVS Laxman, Adam Gilchrist (capt-wk), T Suman, Rohit Sharma, Andrew Symonds, Dwayne Smith/Herschelle Gibbs, B Sumanth, RP Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ryan Harris, Harmeet Singh
Royal Challengers Bangalore: S Sriram, Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa (wk), Ross Taylor, Cameron White, Virat Kohli, Anil Kumble (capt), Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Dale Steyn
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