RCB don't have many game-changers

Kohli, Gayle lead RCB to 26-run win over Pune

The Royal Challengers of Bangalore have another crack at getting into the finals of the DLF IPL 2011. They missed out despite having the Chennai Super Kings on the mat but that also explains why the Chennai team has had such a good record in the IPL. They have more than one player who can make the difference and be game-changers.

The Challengers seem to have only Gayle and to a certain extent Virat Kohli who can turn a game on its head. AB de Villiers has not quite hit his straps as he had in last year's event, but for all you know he may be keeping it for the last couple of days of this year's tournament. The Chennai team has apart from skipper Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Albie Morkel, Mike Hussey and Doug Bollinger who have the skills and the temperament to change the match.

The adverse effects of playing too much cricket

Mumbai Indians will have noticed how Chris Gayle was attacked with short balls by Bollinger and they will also try the tactic. They have in Lasith Malinga a bowler who can with his whippy slinging action get the ball to climb alarmingly as well as bowl those deadly yorkers.

Harbhajan will be an important factor too and he bowled quite beautifully in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders tossing the ball up and mixing it with the flat one but it was only when he tried the low full tosses that he gave runs. It is a ball which fetches wickets occasionally but is more expensive in the long run. The percentages don't work in its favour yet it is a delivery that bowlers resort to when under the gun from the batsmen.

Tendulkar's partner Adrian Blizzard came good in the KKR game and his aggression with Tendulkar's experience should help Mumbai Indians weather the Zaheer-Aravind duo. Rohit Sharma was so distraught at being run out that he will look to make up for a mistake that could have proved costly and that doesn't augur well for the Challengers.

There is also James Franklin who has batted with a calm assurance that steadies the nerves in the dressing room. Mumbai almost lost the plot but it was Franklin who saved them the blushes after the brilliant start by Blizzard and Tendulkar. Like Gayle the tactic against Kieron Pollard also seems to be the short ball but unless the pitch has a bit of carry it won't work. The Chennai pitch does have some bounce but it will also help spin so it will be an even contest.

More columns

The Challengers have had an extra day of rest and to gather their thoughts too. They have to prepare not to depend too heavily on Gayle for that would suddenly put too much pressure on the others if he fails. More than the batting it is the bowling that they need to look at for they have not been able to defend good scores like in the first playoff match.

It is even stevens and just like Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gambhir said, the team that holds its nerve will triumph.

Professional Management Group