JOIN USRoyal Challengers eye winning finish
It is easier to remember the number of wins for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season. They have managed just two from 13 matches.
Amongst the first to bow out of contention, RCB, despite its dynamic set of players, failed to live up to the expectations. As they come out to play their conclusive match of the edition against another under-performers, Delhi Daredevils, they will be hoping to end their miserable season on a winning note.
For RCB, the finalists last year, are on a seven-match losing streak to occupy the bottom place.
Daredevils, at sixth place, too couldn’t make the play-offs to cap another dismal season for themselves. They, however, in a belated resurgence have won their last two matches. On Friday, they dealt a seven-run blow to Rising Pune Supergiant, who were just a win away from qualifying for the knockouts.
Such has been the abject surrender by the RCB that its captain Virat Kohli admitted they had to laugh it off at times. He had been candid in admitting that they would have to accept the terrible season and move on. The defeats of RCB, highlighted by their batting failures, have been inexplicable at times. None of their star foreign imports - be it Chris Gayle, AB de Villers or Shane Watson could get going.
Kohli, who missed the first three games due to a shoulder injury, too, couldn't to keep up with his exacting standards that saw him lead RCB to final last year with astounding 973 runs. Their bowling, too, didn’t inspire much confidence with leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal being their key wicket-taker.
As for Daredevils, they have had start-stop campaign, often inflicted by their infamous inconsistency.
Still, they have several positives to take home from the season. Their bunch of youngsters have shown the intent to fight. Wicketkeeper-batman, Rishabh Pant made his mark in the IPL too with his fearless approach and penchant for big strikes. Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer also scored at different stages to assert their presence.
Karun Nair, who had been waging a long struggle since his memorable triple hundred against England, seemed to have regained his touch. His 64 against Pune was crucial in Daredevils raising a fighting total.
Daredevils' attack has been led admirably by veteran left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, whose art of slow balls and swing, continues to baffle the opposition. Delhi spinners- Amit Mishra and Shahbaz Nadeem -- have given a good account of themselves in the middle overs, even as Pat Cummins and Mohammad Shami proved to be expensive.
It might be a dead rubber, but with Kohli turning up at his home town, one can expect a packed house at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday night.