Royal Challengers look to consolidate their position

After scoring their first away victory in five attempts, Royal Challengers Bangalore have landed here with the hope of consolidating their position in the sixth edition of Indian Premier League.

With the tournament entering its most important phase, every point is crucial. Their opponents, Kings XI Punjab, short in star component, however, enjoy the potential and reputation of inflicting surprise defeats.

The fact that Kings XI have lost their last three matches makes it imperative for them to go for victory at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium on Monday. They are currently at sixth position with four wins and six losses.

The return of Shaun Marsh, whose crucial knock failed to alter a losing cause in their previous match against Chennai Super Kings, and the form of David Miller has given the side a faint chance of revival.

But against a formidable unit like Challengers, David Hussey’s men have to put up a concerted effort.

The Challengers have proved themselves to be unbeatable on home ground—M Chinnaswamy Stadium. However, their inability to win matches outside home resulted in conceding the top slot. They are currently placed second at 14 points from seven wins and four losses.

With a slender 17-run victory against a struggling Pune Warriors India they have only bought temporary peace. Consistent victories are what they must be praying for!

Tougher opponents

Kings XI will prove to be tougher opponents than Warriors. The Punjab team, after a slow start, had gathered momentum in the middle stages with some sensational wins but couldn’t continue in the same vein.

They did put up a brave fight during their 15-runs loss, chasing a massive total against Chennai Super Kings, and will like to take positives from the game.

The Challengers’ bowling will have to keep a tab on run-leak with Kings XI boasting of some gritty players like Marsh, Miller, Hussey, Mandeep Singh and Azhar Mahmood.
Against Pune Warriors, Challengers could feel the heat when the home side came ominously close to the total against some ordinary bowling. RP Singh and the likes cannot afford such indulgence against Kings XI.

For the home side, their bowling has proven to be the best bet. Praveen Kumar and Manpreet Gony have done well and Mahmood has complemented them with his utility bowling.

Parvinder Awana, on his day, can be effective too. The team, however, has only one regular spinner in Piyush Chawla and it will be a challenge for the Kings XI attack to contain a batting side as strong as Challengers.

The likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohi, and AB de Villiers can tear apart any bowling attack and with Saurabh Tiwary also coming good with a half century against the Warriors, Challengers can fancy chasing down any total or putting up a competitive one.

Gayle has become the fear factor after his innings of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His imposing figure will play on the mind of any bowler. Kohli and de Villiers have shown that Challengers is not all about Gayle. They have constructed some match-winning partnerships.

The Challengers will need to showcase their best show tomorrow if they wish to earn credibility as serious contenders.

Star watch

* SAURABH TIWARY: The left-handed batsman burst onto the scene in 2010 with so­­me good kn­ocks for Mumbai Indians. He packs brute po­­wer like fellow Jharkhandi MS Dhoni. He opened the batting against Pune Warriors and showed signs of regaining his touch.

* SHAUN MARSH: Kings XI’s batting has been shored up with the joining of Shaun Marsh. The Au­­­­s­tralian sh­o­wed his value with a brilliant 73 agai­n­st Super Kings. The left-hander has scored heavily for Perth Scorchers this season and would be eager to carry his form.