[Porschefire]

A casual browse on the TOI website got me hooked onto something - stats comparison between CSK and RCB, 2019's top and bottom teams currently.





Except for the 'Most Economical' and 'Best Strike Rate', RCB trumps CSK in every stat by miles!!! Yet, CSK has won the IPL 3 times and in all probability, en route to their fourth victory! This despite being banned for 2 years!
And then, there is RCB which has made itself comfortable in the bottom half of the table for the better part of its IPL history!

[Sunil2307]

And then, there is RCB which has made itself comfortable in the bottom half of the table for the better part of its IPL history!

Thats more because they went for style over substance. They have sacrificed team balance for star power. And of course they were on the wrong side of luck a few times.

[NPV]

RCB Vs CSK today was an amazing match - what should have been won easily became a thriller with Umesh Yadav conceding 24 runs in 5 balls to Dhoni

Law of averages caught up in the end with Dhoni missing the last ball and getting run out to give RCB a 1 run victory

Dhoni is undoubtedly the boss in IPL...he confidently declined singles to retain strike and go for big shots, that is something!!! Scared the wits out of RCB for sure.

[Eddy]

Augurs well for India, doesn't it? First Dhawan and now MSD. All we need is for Kedar Jadhav to find some batting form.

But I feel for Kuldeep Yadav. I hope he regains his forma and confidence soon. And Umesh Yadav - he is just not cut out for death over bowling. Period.

[vibbs]

The three single that Dhoni refused probably costed him the match. I say this from hindsight because he did not score much off the over by refusing to singles either.

But, Kohli is completely clueless as a captain. What shoddy management of your resources to give Umesh yadav of all people the last over!! He is probably as clueless as his captain of what to bowl!

[Eddy]

Originally Posted by vibbs

But, Kohli is completely clueless as a captain. What shoddy management of your resources to give Umesh yadav of all people the last over!!

On the contrary, I think he chose the order well. 26 is a LOT to leave anyone in the last over. Imagine Umesh giving away 24 in the 18th over. CSK would have cantered home in that case, in all likelihood.

[Aditya_Bhp]

'What' is the role of Pawan Negi in RCB?
Did not bat well, leaks runs while bowling and was sloppy on the field today. Is he a batsman or a bowler?
I believe even Pujara would have been a better buy for RCB than Negi.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Eddy

On the contrary, I think he chose the order well. 26 is a LOT to leave anyone in the last over. Imagine Umesh giving away 24 in the 18th over. CSK would have cantered home in that case, in all likelihood.

Yes, Kohli may not have had Umesh bowl if there were say 15-18 runs needed off the last over - he would had to risk bowling someone else, maybe Negi or Moeen.

26 runs is a lot to get in 6 balls and if it wasn't for Umesh's (bad) bowling and Dhoni's superb batting, it would have been different. Luckily Umesh isn't in the World Cup ODI squad

Originally Posted by Aditya_Bhp

'What' is the role of Pawan Negi in RCB?

That question is applicable for many of RCB's players this year! Overall, RCB's fielding has been very bad this year, too many dropped chances and sloppy fielding to leak runs. To be fair to Negi, in yesterday's match against CSK, he did bowl the one over he got quite well, just gave 7 runs off it. I think Negi is a good bowler who can bat a bit. RCB does need a complete team overhaul with respect to their bowlers, no doubts about that.

[libranof1987]

RCB better spend a chunk of money at the next auction getting good bowlers; they can't seem to defend any score, despite the early wickets.

That said, I hope Dhoni plays and scores just as well and as consistently in India colors as he does for CSK. Never quite thought I'd say this.

Logging off IPL.

[PPS]

Was surprised when the last over was given to Umesh Yadav! Considering he had Stoinis as an option, who managed to bowl 3 dot balls to an in-form Russell in the earlier game (i know he also conceded 3 sixes).

Saini seems a good prospect but he needs to work on the yorker & has a problem with front foot no balls.

Btw, that leg spinner from RR - Gopal has done really well & seems worth a go in the 'A' team atleast. He can also bat a bit which is an added advantage.

[redCherry]

Originally Posted by NPV

RCB Vs CSK today was an amazing match - what should have been won easily became a thriller.....

To me somehow this RCB team seems to be like the Indian team of the 1990-2000 decade, who would have lost half the match even before it began, if they come up against Pakistan . RCB is like that Indian team, just the thought of playing CSK, half the battle is lost. It's a different story they somehow managed to win this time around.

[msdivy]

Originally Posted by vibbs

But, Kohli is completely clueless as a captain.!

What was surprising is Kohli didn't talk to Umesh during the last over. Kohli must have dictated exactly what type of ball to be attempted. But Kohli was busy chatting with Nehra on the boundary line and didn't control the last over.

Originally Posted by Eddy

On the contrary, I think he chose the order well.

RCB bowling unit was superb. The fast bowlers bowled outswingers and CSK batsmen seem to have forgotten on handling them.

Originally Posted by Aditya_Bhp

'What' is the role of Pawan Negi in RCB?

Both Negi & Chahal are left-arm bowlers. If RCB wants spin option, there is already Moen Ali in playing 11.

[Sunil2307]

Originally Posted by msdivy

Both Negi & Chahal are left-arm bowlers. If RCB wants spin option, there is already Moen Ali in playing 11.

Chahal is right arm leg spin. Did you mean that both are similar in terms that they both bowl balls that leave the right hander? If that is the case, yes Moeen balls the ball that comes into the right hander.

[NPV]

Great match yesterday RCB Vs KXIP

Despite the win, I think RCB may not make it to the playoffs. Parthiv is the unsung hero this season with consistent batting performances and good wicket keeping.

What is worrying is RCB's fielding - even someone like Kohli has dropped 5 catches this season

Just hoping Kohli, Chahal etc won't carry this fielding "form" into the world cup!

[msdivy]

Originally Posted by NPV

What is worrying is RCB's fielding

Fielding is a smaller problem to fix . What is worrying is RCB's team composition. When IPL started, Rahul Dravid was the captain. He built a great test team for T20 competition (with the likes of Dravid himself, Jaffer, Kallis, Chanderpaul, Misbah, etc). Kohli has fallen to the same trap. RCB looks like they can compete in a ODI competition than a T20 tournament. 90 runs in 10 overs or 40 runs in 3 overs is a typical ask in a T20 game. This requires scoring 15+ runs an over for few overs. Apart from ABD, no other batsman is capable of getting that many runs. But he comes at No. 3 or 4. Nos. 5, 6 or 7 must be capable to get 15+ in the last 5 overs to compete in T20 match.

Hence RCB fall short in setting targets and cannot get to the target set. RCB captain & others blame RCB bowling and make them scapegoats. But the real problem is their captaincy & batsmen are not cut out for T20 game.

Just hoping Kohli, Chahal etc won't carry this fielding "form" into the world cup!

No worries. In World cup, Kohli can delegate the captaincy to Dhoni and watch the proceedings from the boundary line.