Indore: Having notched up a morale-boosting win over Delhi Daredevils without some of their star players, Royal Challengers Bangalore face another test of character when they face Kings XI Punjab in their third IPL match here on Monday.
RCB began their campaign without skipper and star batsman Virat Kohli as well as another key player A B de Villiers due to injuries and lost their opening match against defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad.
RCB have also lost India batsman Lokesh Rahul for the entire tournament owing to an injury and the talented Sarfaraz Khan will most likely be unavailable for the season after hurting himself on the field during a practice match.
Kohli is almost certain to miss tomorrow’s match as there has not been any word on his status since the BCCI’s advisory on April 2 which said that his fitness will be assessed in the second week of this month.
Explosive South African batsman de Villiers is once again a doubtful starter for and in his absence Shane Watson would continue to lead the side as an interim captain.
Watson had marshalled his bowling resources well in RCB’s 15-run win over Delhi at home, himself taking one wicket and bowling economically by conceding just 21 runs from his quota of four overs.
Watson choked Delhi’s Amit Mishra for runs at the closing stages of the match and that contributed to RCB’s first win of the tournament. He also contributed a run-a-ball 24, the second highest score, in RCB’s total of 157 for 8.
Billy Stanlake and Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed two wickets apiece but it was Pawan Negi, picked by Watson to bowl the final over, who did the trick for RCB by dismissing Rishabh Pant, the only Delhi batsman who could have won the match for his side.
On the batting front, RCB surely missed Kohli and de Villiers though Kedar Jadhav once again showed his utility by smashing a 37-ball 69 to single-handedly take his side to 157 for 8. ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle failed to get going as he scored just 6 yesterday after his 32 in RCB’s first match. Kings XI Punjab will come into the match with a lot of confidence.
