Indian Premier League - General Discussion

[Bevab]

Banton could have made a solid 30 and I would have still sent Tripathi as the first choice opener. Pretty incredible that he has been dropped down the order after just one bad game. Gill or Banton should have been batting at three and given that Gill is their highest run scorer, it should have been Banton.

 

[Yash.]

Also its insane that in 9 years at RCB, Kohli and AB have scored 3000 + runs.

Not that surprising TBH, their batting has been largely over dependent on them, so it would have been done. It's just like Dhawan and Warner, who have scored around 2500 runs in 4 years, as the SRH batting was just about both of them.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

Banton could have made a solid 30 and I would have still sent Tripathi as the first choice opener. Pretty incredible that he has been dropped down the order after just one bad game. Gill or Banton should have been batting at three and given that Gill is their highest run scorer, it should have been Banton.

Replacing a 4 over bank with a batsman in the first place was dumb! And in Sharjah!!!

 

[Pinch hitter]

1st time I am looking well balanced RCB team... At start of IPL bowling is good and batting is OK for T20 game... after couple of years later, batting become solid and bowling become weak link of RCB... This year, we have young guns who giving there best, We have all type of bowlers for different time of the game... Now we need to give this lineup more and more matches to perform like CSK, MI and KKR at there best...

 

[wasteyouryouth]

RCB looking really good the last two matches.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

This is what happens when you play the right team and use them. It's unreal Sundar was not bowling the first two games.

 

[abhi_jacko]

1st time I am looking well balanced RCB team... At start of IPL bowling is good and batting is OK for T20 game... after couple of years later, batting become solid and bowling become weak link of RCB... This year, we have young guns who giving there best, We have all type of bowlers for different time of the game... Now we need to give this lineup more and more matches to perform like CSK, MI and KKR at there best...

Except that their catching has gone to sh!t this time.. 14 catches dropped in 7 matches. And that too simple catches being dropped by players who are known for their safe hands. Bizzare

 

[abhi_jacko]

There we go.. Drop Russell and now pay for it

 

[LiveLoveABD]

As I had said, Kohli will end up leapfrogging AB in the highest runs category but 7 games in, 3 half centuries and all match winning ones. THAT is the magic of the man!

 

[Pinch hitter]

Except that their catching has gone to sh!t this time.. 14 catches dropped in 7 matches. And that too simple catches being dropped by players who are known for their safe hands. Bizzare

May be you switched off your TV when other teams are fielding... All team dropped catches in every match...

 

[NILAYSHAH60]

A side that has made blunders year after year have suddenly played extremely well although against a team struggling to find their balance this season. But I would repeat it again. RCB have the side this time around.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

I know Bravo has been a huge servant of CSK, but they have to play Tahir tomorrow. They just have to. Bravo's batting is never being utilised and Tahir will give CSK the bite that is needed. Their spinners are not doing anything which has been CSK's strength.

It's time for Jadeja to step up. Put him at no.4 and let him bat the rest of the games there.

 

[Bevab]

Two games in a row where we've witnessed two very special knocks from Kohli and AbD. As I've already said I'm loving this version of AbD who knows that he can go big in the death if he gives himself the time to settle in. My only worry is that he wouldn't have been capable of such fireworks in the second innings after keeping. Bangalore either need to rest him for a game or two (which is blasphemy, I know) if they want him to be the keeper for more games in the future or else have another keeper until at least the knockout stages. Siraj's boundless potential has translated to better T20 performances this season, hoping this will finally shed some limelight on him as a fantastic prospect for the longer formats of the game as I feel it is unfair that he hasn't received a proper chance yet. Katich's also showing why he is highly rated as a T20 coach. If Chennai don't make it in I do hope that one of Delhi or Bangalore win the tournament.

 

[SaiSrini]

I know Bravo has been a huge servant of CSK, but they have to play Tahir tomorrow. They just have to. Bravo's batting is never being utilised and Tahir will give CSK the bite that is needed. Their spinners are not doing anything which has been CSK's strength.

It's time for Jadeja to step up. Put him at no.4 and let him bat the rest of the games there.

From the social media buzz and seeing the player tweets, it looks like Ngidi might be set for a return tomorrow in place of Bravo. I still don't think the pitches are turning enough for a 3rd spinner. Its more of two paced, warranting bowlers who have pace variations.

 

[LiveLoveABD]

From the social media buzz and seeing the player tweets, it looks like Ngidi might be set for a return tomorrow in place of Bravo. I still don't think the pitches are turning enough for a 3rd spinner. Its more of two paced, warranting bowlers who have pace variations.

I strongly disagree. MI have Chahar and Krunal regularly performing. Stoinis aside, DC's lynchpin has been their two spinners. RCB has Sundar and Chahal regularly picking 2-3 wickets and with economy rates less than 6/7. Rashid Khan has been the best spinner of the tournament. RR have two leggies bowling outstandingly and even Punjab's best bowler has been Bishnoi.

Name one CSK spinner that has been a standout? Bravo is not batting, he gets garbage wickets at the end whereas Tahir will give you bite in the PP, the middle and even the 17-18th over if needed. The biggest thing that CSK needs is an injection of infectious energy and passion and I would pen Tahir's name on the XI tomorrow before Dhoni's.

Jadeja has got to step up. First with the ball and he has to bat 4. Just having a left hander in the mix over there will upset a choking effect that is being created in the middle and Jadeja has been batting really well and wasted royally.

I will again repeat- A side like CSK needs one or two wins and it will not be long before everyone will join the bandwagon of "it was just a glitch." Another big reason for CSK to react is that it looks like you could sneak in with 6 wins or 7 wins this year and a turn around is not past CSK's reach.

Ngigi is a bogus pick. He is an atrocious death bowler and his only value addition is with the new ball and Chahar and Thakur are doing just fine. CSK's issues are middle order batting and mid innings bowling where they don't pick wickets as a result of which the floodgates open at the death.

Watson
du Plessis
Rayudu
Jadeja
Dhoni
Jadhav
Curran
Chahar
Thakur
Chawla
Tahir

I know Jagadeesan did okay last game but I would like to give Jadhav one last go. He is a former India international and may be a kick up the backside is what was needed for him. Give him a go and make it clear that it's go time!

EDIT- One more thing- If CSK are chasing, open with Curran and Watson. It will come with some shock to the opposition, disrupt plans and it will inject a much needed thrust of momentum right at the top. It's left field and one innings of 30/40 could completely turn around CSK fortunes. If he gets out, so be it. CSK bat till 10. No big deal.