RR Vs RCB : The Underdogs Vs The Underachievers

So far in IPL this season, it has been an Aussie Show. Glenn Maxwell is having the form of his life while representing Kings XI Punjab, a new comer Chris Lynn plucking a catch after falling in a gutter and winning the match for his team Kolkata Knightriders. Hilfenhaus again representing CSK this year has been able to provide those breakthroughs with the new ball and at other intervals too. David Warner and Aaron Finch who failed in the first two matches struck form against Daredevils last evening. But the two big Aussie all-rounders James Faulkner and Shane Watson who is also captaining the Rajasthan Royals have not been able to produce winning performances. Watson did get a fifty in a match but has not been able to lead his side past the winning line. Faulkner has not got much chance with the bat but has not done justice to his bowling.
This Saturday is going to be a very important match for a team which has relied on players which are not so much known of, Rajasthan Royals. Their team started had a brilliant start this season. But their ship has only sunk thereafter. The inaugural IPL winners have always been regarded as the Underdogs of IPL. They are the only team which spends the least in players auction and still gets the maximum returns. But this year, it has been tough for those not so big players in the side. The experienced players in Ajinkya Rahane, Shane Watson, Brad Hodge need to come forward and produce those match winning performances for their team to get back into Winning ways. Remember they are not going to get the same kind of home support as they had in the previous 6 years as they haven’t been given Jaipur as their home ground. Jaipur was the stadium which was extremely lucky for them or rather call it as the stadium which they know very well. Ahmedabad is their home ground this year.
Royal challengers Bangalore are going to be a tough challenge for them at this important juncture of the tournament. RCB lost their last match to KKR rather than KKR winning that match thanks to Chris Lynn`s acrobatic efforts. RCB haven’t yet had the services of the tormentor Chris Gayle so far in the tournament and yet have looked one of the tougher sides to beat this season. Their first two wins came within 18 overs. That shows their all round performance. Although we haven’t seen AB Devilliers perform upto his self set standards. Yuvraj Singh has looked patchy all this season including this IPL. It will be tough to say that he has struck form as he continuously struggles against quality pace bowlers.
But what does Rajasthan Royals need to do to get back to winning ways? They need their top order to fire and do not lose track in the middle of the innings. Shane Watson needs to fire and Binny has to give them a perfect closure along with Faulkner and co. But they need to remember that they need to play normal cricket rather than trying to hit every ball out of the park as they did against KXIP which is the reason why Rahane and Samson lost their wickets after giving a brilliant start. So the message would be “GET BACK TO THE BASICS“. Go underdogs!

—Ddevanshu Wadhawan