Bangalore finally have come into their own elements. Yesterday they thumped a strong bowling attack of Mumbai by 9 wkts which had 3 international bowlers, 2 of them from India. Not only now they are looking good to reach the semis path, but they are also looking a different team altogether after the change of guard and finally coming of age by Jacques Kallis in his own home turf. KP was clueless in his captaincy and I believe the painful experience of losing England captaincy earlier this year hasn’t left KP totally yet. I didn’t see the game as I was travelling in bus with no TV access, but the omens were visible in the game against Punjab when Anil Kumble himself led the charge in final overs. He was the ODI bowler of 90s when Azhar would throw the ball to him within the first 15 overs and then at the end of innings (2nd or 1st) and expect a wicket. Uthappa managed to get some runs albeit a bit late as he lost out on the opportunity to make it to the World T20 squad. Kallis ’s return to the form would also make him in the reckoning in the spot for SA team for World T20.
Right now Bangalore are hanging at # 4. Some more upsets today would see them go at the top of the table. That won’t be a surprise though, now that Rahul is back too, the team should fancy itself for a semi-final spot. Today’s game is a bit of fancy ride for Chennai. If they win this, they go at the top of the table with 9 points and Bangalore drop to 5. If Deccans win then they maintain their top spot and nothing changes in the standings. The top 4 spots are too crowded and too tight to be in the comfort zone for anybody to sit and relax. Mumbai Indians are suffering for their lack of decisive punch. Harbhajan is out of form and Zaheer is hot and cold. They can’t just win on basis of 3 players – Tendulkar, Duminy and Malinga. At least 4 or 5 players need to fire and one of them big time. Who else than their best batsman. Time is running out for Mumbai Indians. Also need for them to throw out the likes of Takwale, Raje and Kulkarni who at best are liabilities and don’t inspire winning confidence in the team. They have 2 more days to recuperate and go back to the drawing board to reformulate their strategies. And for that Tendulkar will need to drop his anchor role and assume the prima donna role of savage harvester of runs as he is in the international circuit.
Right now Bangalore are hanging at # 4. Some more upsets today would see them go at the top of the table. That won’t be a surprise though, now that Rahul is back too, the team should fancy itself for a semi-final spot. Today’s game is a bit of fancy ride for Chennai. If they win this, they go at the top of the table with 9 points and Bangalore drop to 5. If Deccans win then they maintain their top spot and nothing changes in the standings. The top 4 spots are too crowded and too tight to be in the comfort zone for anybody to sit and relax. Mumbai Indians are suffering for their lack of decisive punch. Harbhajan is out of form and Zaheer is hot and cold. They can’t just win on basis of 3 players – Tendulkar, Duminy and Malinga. At least 4 or 5 players need to fire and one of them big time. Who else than their best batsman. Time is running out for Mumbai Indians. Also need for them to throw out the likes of Takwale, Raje and Kulkarni who at best are liabilities and don’t inspire winning confidence in the team. They have 2 more days to recuperate and go back to the drawing board to reformulate their strategies. And for that Tendulkar will need to drop his anchor role and assume the prima donna role of savage harvester of runs as he is in the international circuit.
