IPL 8 Eliminator: Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore -- Top Five Battles
Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 8 eliminator clash at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday.
Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore will square-off against Steve Smith's Rajasthan Royals in the high-stakes IPL 8 eliminator clash at the Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium in Pune on Wednesday. The two teams have fought tooth-and-nail all the way through to secure qualification to the playoffs and will be itching to extend their campaign till the very end. (Full IPL Coverage)
Here are the top five battles to watch out for:
Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith - The Ultimate Battle of Wits
Two similarly aggressive captains, two completely identical seasons and a blockbuster playoff fixture! Virat Kohli and Steve Smith have stood at opposite ends trying to outwit each other on numerous occasions in the time leading up to the World Cup 2015. They meet once again, on opposite sides, trying to steer their respective teams one step closer to IPL glory.
Rajasthan Royals' campaign started off on a fabulous note with five successive wins but they lost their way ever since and needed a win off their final league stage game to qualify. Just when they were heading towards a mid-season crisis, Smith took over captaincy from Shane Watson and has managed to steer the team to the final four. By his lofty standards, Smith has had a below-par season with the bat. However, it would be foolish to write off the baby-faced Aussie, who has displayed a knack for high-pressure games. Smith broke Indian hearts with a smashing knock against MS Dhoni's men in the World Cup 2015 semis. On Wednesday, he'd love to repeat performance and crash the party of the vastly-growing Kohli fanclub.
Kohli also had sluggish start to the tournament but orchestrated RCB's season-defining knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad to carry his side over the line and into the playoffs. Kohli has 481 runs in 14 games at an average of 53.44 and has shown signs of improvement with every passing game. With form by his side and a never-say-die attitude, Kohli seems determined like never before to guide his side to glory.
Chris Gayle vs James Faulkner - Big Boys, Big Games
One of the most endearing quality of big-match players is that, irrespective of the kind of slump in their form, they will turn up with a blank slate and play like never-before in crunch situations. One of the most loved and the most anticipated stars of the IPL -- Chris Gayle -- has had his share of brilliance in the tournament so far. With one century and two fifties, Gayle has been at his trademark, devastating best , but only in patches. While out of sync he has often gotten stuck at the crease, eating up deliveries and piling the pressure on his batting partners. A good start for Gayle on Wednesday will set the tone for Bangalore's chances.
James Faulkner has had a woeful season so far, with just 140 runs and eight wickets to his name. The Rajasthan think-tank however, have persisted with him, expecting that a big performance is around the corner. Wednesday, would be perfect for Faulkner to strike form in style. Smith has been smart while rotating his bowling resources and an in-form Faulkner and his well-disguised back-of-the-hand slower ones will be quintessential for the 2008 champions.
AB de Villiers vs Praveen Tambe - Audacity vs Sheer Grit
AB de Villiers has moved over his World Cup heartbreak swiftly, settling into life at RCB. His mind-numbing 59-ball knock of 133 not out was a brutal display of his audacious hitting in full flow. When on song, De Villiers has often had the ability to force some of the toughest oppositions to cave in and applaud his genius with the bat. On Wednesday, the prospect of taking his team closer to a tournament final -- something he couldn't in the World Cup -- will add several springs in his steps. If he gets going, the game could be won and lost in a very short span of time.
At the other end of 360 degree-strokeplay, stands the gritty old Rajasthan spinner Praveen Tambe. Smith has used his star leg spinner to break many-a-blooming-partnerships. Tambe has defied the common perception of linking age to performance and conquered several feats on the field in the IPL. De Villiers will mount a Herculean challenge, but Tambe will be up for it. If he foxes the South African dasher early, Rajasthan can seize the initiative and dictate terms in the high-voltage fixture.
Ajinkya Rahane vs Mitchell Starc - The You-Blink-I-hit Contest
Rajasthan Royals' most solid batsman -- Ajinkya Rahane -- will square off against the most successful bowler of the season -- Mitchell Starc in a mouth-watering clash. Even in a league of obscene hitting and easy wickets, this battle has the ingredients to even enthrall the purists. Season after season, Rahane has been the rock that has repeated laid the foundation for Rajasthan's batting performances. Amidst the frenzy of short boundaries, loud music and dancing cheerleaders, Rahane has displayed an uncanny knack of keeping his head on his shoulders and going about his innings in the most technical manner.
For a top-heavy side like Bangalore, Starc's availability came like a breath of fresh air after a disappointing start to their season. It was his early strike in the World Cup final that put the rampaging Kiwis completely out of the game. Smith, who was a big part of that World Cup-winning side, will entrust Starc with similar responsibilities.
Shane Watson vs Yuzvendra Chahal - Form vs Guile
In a crunch knockout game, Watson came to the party, smashing a sensational century to knock a formidable Kolkata Knight Riders out of the tournament and taking his team forward to the playoffs. Watson has had a bumpy ride in IPL 2015, battling injury and handing over the captaincy to Smith. However, return to form at the right juncture will send the alarm bells ringing in the opposition camp.
Royal Challengers Bangalore boast of an envious top-order but their lacklustre bowling has often come in the way of positive results. As the season progressed, Starc's return injected fresh lease of life in the Bangalore bowlers and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has matched the Aussie spinner wicket-for-wicket and even gone ahead by one. With 19 scalps, Chahal is second highest wicket-taker in the season so far. With Rahane and Watson batting with great confidence, Kohli could be tempted to throw the ball to his star turner Chahal early on in the innings.