 Royal Challengers Bangalore will host the Mumbai Indians in the 52nd game
of the IPL at Bangalore. While the Mumbai Indians have already qualified for the
semi-finals with their nine wins from 12 games, the Royal Challengers Bangalore
have yet to do so, and given that this is their last match, they will need to
make it count and win it in order to seal their berth in the knock-out.
Bangalore would have been an upset side after their loss to the Deccan Chargers.
They were in a position to win the game, and then they collapsed, which meant
that a fuming Anil Kumble blamed Jacques Kallis for the loss. Kallis
seemed to have countered that by saying that the opposition played well and
that one had to give due credit to them for the same.
Click for Live Score Card of Bangalore Royal Challengers Vs Mumbai IndiansHowever, everything said and done, the side now needs to play much better than
they have in the last 4-5 games. The problem is that the momentum has gone against
them and irrespective of whether they have batted first or second, they have
ended up on the losing side.
Bangalore now need to bat first, pile up the big runs, get going with the bowling
with their utmost gusto and put the opposition under pressure. In order to do
that, they need their batsmen to fire, their bowlers to do a job, and most importantly,
the tactics and strategies to go right. You cannot leave out a player like Kevin
Pietersen and expect that Cameron White would do the job, in the process,
losing out on 3-4 games in the way.
Mumbai Indians may have qualified for the semi-finals, but they will not want
to put that foot off the pedal. This will mean that the side will go in with
most of the main players, except, say resting one or two of them, who have had
a rather long tournament. Zaheer Khan could be one of them, and so could
the likes of Lasith Malinga, which will mean that the fringe players could get
an opportunity to get going.
From their batting point of view, the best piece of news is that Kieron Pollard has been able to finally get firing in their game against Delhi.
His 13-ball 45, followed by four overs of economical bowling a couple of run-outs
has obviously pulled the Mumbai Indians into a strong position and he will be
the man to look out for.
To me, Royal Challengers Bangalore will struggle in this game, as Mumbai
will look to avenge their previous loss to the side.
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