IPL 8: Confident Royal Challengers Bangalore run into Kolkata Knight Riders
RCB team looks like a threatening lot with Mitchell Starc leading the bowling attack
By : chitrangada d.c.
Update: 2015-05-02 02:29 GMT
Bengaluru: Jane Austen once said, “There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” But the standard norms of home advantage seem to differ for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are yet to register their first home win this season. Having finally found their groove in both batting and bowling departments, the Virat Kohli-led side will be an optimistic bunch as they host defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in an afternoon match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.
The Challengers, high on confidence on the back of two massive wins will be looking for a repeat show after defeating the Knight Riders in their first encounter of the season at the Eden Gardens. Apart from the home jinx and the rains, which have been lashing the city over the past few days, the home team looks like a threatening lot with Mitchell Starc leading the bowling attack. Living up to the tag of the World Cup man of the series, the left-arm bowler is in menacing form, turning out to be a batsman’s nightmare.
The Challengers batting department has found the right mix with the middle-order stepping up when the openers fail to click. With West Indian Chris Gayle threatening to break loose, and South African AB de Villiers being his consistent self throughout, there is little to worry for the home boys.
The Seventeen-year-old Sarfaraz Khan, who played a tremendous knock of 45( 21b) against the Rajasthan Royals in their washed out home match on Wednesday will aim for an encore.
On the other hand, the Knight Riders hold sweet memories of the venue having having claimed their last IPL title here. With memories of the title triumph —the last time they played here — and fuelled by the impressive win over Chennai Super Kings on Thursday, the Knights will be a confident lot with two Bengaluru boys — Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey — keen to make a mark in this ‘away’ match. Both teams are evenly matched heading into Saturday’s game.