Bangalore to go for kill against Chennai

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Two days to go, one league game in hand and potentially three teams in the reckoning for the final playoffs berth. Add to that the threat of rain. Things couldn’t have gotten more exciting but sadly for cricket in general and IPL in particular, shocking off-the-field happenings have taken centre stage.
In a season where the quality of matches has been extremely high and competitiveness at its zenith, it’s hurting that a few fallen ones have gone on to sell their soul for financial rewards.
Be that as it may, the game must game go on and sport, unlike life, has a way of restoring normalcy quicker than you could imagine. The Royal Challengers Bangalore, a strong contender up until midway through the tournament have fallen on tough times and are left to fight it out with the Sunrisers Hyderabad and to an extent even the Kings XI Punjab for the sole remaining playoffs spot.
Having allowed themselves to slip into this predicament, Virat Kohli’s men go up against one of the most successful teams in IPL history, the Chennai Super Kings. If ever there was a battle to be won and pride restored, then this is it. The Challengers go into their final league game with the absolute necessity of winning it while Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men have the more enviable task of safeguarding their position in the top-two.
Pressure can do strange things; you can either swim or sink with it and the Challengers, who have struggled with their bowling unit, have the onerous task of throttling the in-form Super Kings’ batsmen, who have been most merciless against the best of the bowlers, save for that sensational collapse against the Mumbai Indians almost two weeks ago.
While the Challengers will be mulling over their best combination, the Super Kings could well rest a few key players depending on the change in the points table after Friday’s game.
The biggest worry for the young Kohli has been the inability of his bowlers to defend totals, however strong it has been. Runs have been leaked in plenty in the death and Challengers are paying the price for it.
While the batting has been shepherded by Chris Gayle, Kohli, AB de Villiers in general, the West Indian’s opening partner is as much a concern as their bowlers. It is a given that Murali Kartik will return for the game meaning they may drop one batsman in either Cheteswhar Pujara or Arun Karthik while Zaheer Khan, who played his first match in 15 games on Tuesday, may keep his place. Given the scenario, they could also bring back the consistent Ravi Rampaul in place of Muttiah Muralitharan. A super Saturday may be in the offing.