JOIN USFor the teams, the sheer pace of the tournament presents its own challenge. You lose one match, then another... and then another goes against you... and, all of sudden, you are stuck in a losing run and then a game is rained off. Before you know it, five matches have gone by and you still have only one win to your name.
This is precisely our position at the Royal Challengers Bangalore. This is an outstanding franchise -- the administration is excellent, the coaching is top class and we have assembled a very strong squad of players.
However, the reality is that so far, we have not played anywhere near our potential on the field. More than anything, we need a win and a strong all-round performance to get us back on track, right back in contention for the top four places.
We were hoping that pivotal result and that pivotal performance would happen against Rajasthan before our own supporters on Tuesday, but the heavens opened up and not a single ball was bowled. So we gather again, and we move on.
Our next match is away to the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. They have a strong team, and we’ll expect a tough match but the fact is that to win this competition, we’re going to have to beat the best teams in the most difficult conditions. Kolkata now offers us a perfect opportunity to make a statement and get back into the race.
At RCB, we certainly mean business. The franchise has secured the services of big-hitting Chris Gayle for the rest of the tournament. Chris is renowned throughout world cricket for his destructive batting, and he’s a welcome addition to our group.
So, collectively and individually, we’re focussed and resolved, to bowl more accurately, to bat with more rhythm and to field with genuine hunger and intensity.
This tournament is gathering pace now. The competition is intense. The crowds are excellent. The atmosphere in the grounds is exhilarating. The going is getting tough and, as the saying goes, it is now time for the tough to get going.
It’s time for RCB to stand up, and that’s exactly what we intend to do.
Hawkeye Communications/ Chivach Sports