We are three steps away from glory

DE VIL'S VIEW

Adam Gilchrist is renowned as one of the most destructive batsmen ever to have played the game, and his innings of 106 in 55 balls unfolded as a master class in taking the match away from the opposition. Chasing a target of 233 to win in Dharamsala was always going to be tough, and it duly proved too tough for us.

In four years, the IPL has carved its place in the international cricket calendar, and is rightly recognised for its pace and sustained excitement but beyond the marketing, the IPL has become significant in purely cricketing terms – first, as a platform for emerging Indian talent and second, as an arena where great players can continue to thrill and delight in the twilight of their careers. Gilchrist officially retired some years ago and, without the IPL, we would not have seen him bat as he did on Tuesday.

From an RCB perspective, we obviously need to put the defeat behind us as quickly as possible. No winning run lasts forever, and we need to stay calm, carry on and regain the momentum that carried us to the top of the points table.

Our last league fixture offers the ideal challenge. On Sunday, we welcome the Chennai Super Kings to the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore for a match that, depending on the results of the Mumbai Indians, could determine which team finishes on top of the points table before advancing to the knockout rounds.

We know what we need to do. We need to bowl with the accuracy and discipline and to field with the energy and intensity of recent weeks, and we need to bat with the power and consistency for which our top order has been praised.

The fact is we have earned the right to compete at the business end of IPL4. This is not a dress rehearsal. This is the time for us to play. This is the time for us to shine.

We need to beat Chennai before our own fans on Sunday; we then need to win Qualifier 1 in Mumbai next Tuesday, and we need to win the final in Chennai on May 28.
That’s three steps to glory. We can do it.

Hawkeye Communications