RCB under pressure to perform against CSK

Bangalore: Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore have a mountain to climb in their bid to qualify for the play-offs as they host the high-flying Chennai Super Kings in their concluding Indian Premier League fixture here on Saturday.

The Mangalam Chinnaswamy Stadium, that was long considered as the RCB’s impregnable fortress, especially after six consecutive wins this season, was breached earlier this week when Kings XI Punjab chased down a target of 175 to win by seven wickets.

The surprise defeat certainly stopped the RCB’s progress at 16 points and they have to reckon with two more teams, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (16 points from 14 matches) and Kings XI Punjab (14 from 15), in the race for the fourth play-off berth. The trio all have a realistic chance of joining the top three — Mumbai Indians (22), Super Kings (22) and Rajasthan Royals (20) — in the play-offs.

RCB need to win on Saturday if only to eliminate Kings XI, who are to play Mumbai Indians at Dharmashala, also on Saturday (4pm), from the play-off race.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Super Kings, having made it to the play-offs, will be under less pressure and are expected to play with much more freedom, though their aim would be to finish in the top-two as that would ensure a spot in the Champions League later this year.

The spotlight would then be on RCB, who have had three days to recover from the defeat to Kings XI and avenge the loss to Super Kings. The teams met in the league last month in Chennai, where the hosts snatched a dramatic last-ball win with RP Singh sending down a no-ball and also conceding a single with the home team needing two runs to win.

RCB now find themselves in a tough situation against a team that is among the hot favourites to win the trophy and the onus will be on RCB to lift their overall game and not just be dependent on their three key batsmen, Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to pull them through.

RCB’s bowling, especially in the end-overs, has been a matter of concern, with far too many runs leaked at the death, which have contributed to their defeats. This is rather ironic considering that the team had focused on strengthening its bowling at this year’s auctions.

In contrast, CSK’s major stumbling block has been their collective inconsistency in their batting, which is considered to be their strength. The team that twice put up totals of 200 and more was bundled out for 79 by Mumbai Indians in a collapse that raised many eyebrows. However, such has been CSK’s all-round strength that they have not been dependent on one or two players.

Considering the relative strengths of the two teams and the pressure on RCB, there are strong indicators that the Super Kings could yet pull through to extend their hold on their southern neighbours.