IPL 2015: Table toppers Royals take on bottom-placed RCB

AHMEDABAD: The only thing that is common about the two teams Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) is the word 'royal' in their names. The rest are all poles apart. Like their fortune -- RR is top of the table and RCB is bottom; like their team -- RCB is star-studded, star in plural, while RR is a team with bits-and-pieces players and more importantly their performance -- RR has snatched many victories from the jaws of defeat but RCB has snatched defeats from the jaws of victory.
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Despite the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Dinesh Karthik and AB de Villiers in the team which is again bolstered by the return of Mitchell Starc, RCB is still looking for a performer.Except Gayle's 96 in the opening game against Kolkata Knight Riders which they won, there aren't many highlights that promptly come to mind.
RCB have been depending too much on individual performances. With their famed batting line-up failing miserably time and again there is too much pressure on AB to pull the team out of the dump Similarly, their bowling too has been nothing but ordinary. The last match against Chennai Super Kings was all about Starc with rest failing to step up. Their three losses out of four ties say it all.
The Royals on the other hand, despite their five wins have always been perpetual under dogs. From Season One, they have been the breeding ground for young talented players. Ravindra Jadeja, Swapnil Asnodkar, Yusuf Pathan, Sanju Sam son, Karun Nair, Pravin Tambe (though not young but a very talented player) to Deepak Hooda this year, the list is growing every year. These players play without any inhibition and the team management encourages them to express themselves which has proved to be the USP of the Royals over the years. It is no different this year too. Then they also have some senior members like Ajinkya Rahane (the Orange Cap holder), Shane Watson, Steve Smith, James Faulkner and Chris Morris who are complimenting each other well.

Performances of the foreign players of both teams are making a huge impact in the final outcome. While Watson, Smith, Faulkner and Morris have seen consistency, for RCB, Gayle, Rilee Rossouw, Sean Abbott and Darren Sammy have all let their team down. AB has been hitting the ball as hard as he always does but without any desired result. The only good thing about RCB is that on their day, they can give any team a good run for their money. All they need is the confidence and the right combination on the field.
RR definitely have some thinking to do after their loss to King XI Punjab. With their bowlers getting the stick maybe its time they test their bench with Rajat Bhatia and another Aussie Ben Cutting waiting in the wings. "Generally, when a team is on a losing streak they come really hard at their opponents. We have to be prepared for that," Nair said about their chances against RCB.
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