Vettori's absence is RCB's biggest woe

It was another forgettable game for the Rajasthan Royals and the team which had looked so good in patches, crashed out of the IPL yesterday. Their story in yesterday's game accentuated the issues that they had suffered throughout the tournament; the batting refused to put their hands up and deliver. Half a dozen changes were made but it only helped the side in getting to 97.

It is difficult to predict whether the off-field controversies had their say in deciding their fate or whether it was an issue of lack of adaptability to the pitches other than the ones that assisted the slower bowlers. Either way, the Royals had a decent chance in the middle of the tournament to go through to the next round and seem to have messed it up.

Stylish strokes from some rather stylish folks

The other team which barely looked like they could make it through to the playoffs, Kings XI Punjab, notched up another win to their name. Their target at the start of the game against Mumbai Indians last week was five wins and with three in a row, they seem to have got off to the right beginning to their endeavour.

Now, they play arguably the best team of the competition this year. With seven wins in a row, the Bangalore juggernaut has seemed unstoppable. It is not often that I believe in the concept of lucky charm, but it cannot be a mere coincidence that the presence of Gayle has coincided with their string of wins.

Had someone asked a week ago, I wouldn't have had any doubt about putting Bangalore as favourites. Now, despite all that Bangalore has achieved, I will feel safer keeping my money in my pocket. For once, Punjab have shown that they possess the tenacity to kick on from situations which have been adverse.

Two of their main batsmen, Adam Gilchrist and David Hussey have exhibited a poor run of form and their best spinner - despite the man of the match award versus Delhi - has conceded more than eight runs an over. And yet, Punjab have thwarted challenges from Mumbai, Kochi and Delhi to give themselves something of a chance.

Again, Bangalore has been supremely dependent on Gayle and in almost none of those games, were even tested. A semblance of a tough situation, then, could even things up greatly. From Bangalore's point of view, they would be hoping that Daniel Vettori gets to his fullest fitness as soon as he can.

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He may be missed as a leader, despite Virat Kohli's good job at the top, but it is the absence of his bowling that has been the biggest woe for the Royal Challengers. An economy rate of 5.5 per over speaks volumes of how much the side relies on him to choke the run-flow in the middle overs.

Charl Langeveldt has done a good job though. He is an oft-underrated bowler in the shorter format of the game but the ability to produce the yorkers and the slower deliveries towards the end of the innings, does make him a force to reckon with.

Professional Management Group