RCB aim to derail CSK's aspiration

Royal Challengers Bangalore are in ominous form after their clinical show against Rajasthan Royals.© BCCI

Royal Challengers Bangalore have a batting line-up that is the envy of Indian Premier League (IPL). There is power, flair, brilliance and exuberance in their batting. It is baffling that this team has failed to achieve anything substantial other than two losses in the finals of IPL. In IPL 2015, this team is looking in great shape and they will be determined to reach the top of the mountain.

Chennai Super Kings, though, are a team who have the experience and skill to win the crunch games. They know how to raise their game on the big stage. They may have suffered a loss to Mumbai Indians in the first qualifier, but that will make them fiercely determined to put one over their southern rivals in the second qualifier.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will be aware that they are currently at the receiving end of a three-match losing streak against Chennai Super Kings. With confidence high after their clinical show against Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore will go all-out to break their streak.

Venue: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi

Date: May 22, 2015

Time: 20:00 IST

Weather: Clear skies with a low of 27 degrees

Team news

Chennai Super Kings

The death bowling plans went awry in the qualifier against Mumbai Indians. After a disciplined start, the bowlers leaked 101 runs in the last 10 overs and this is an area that MS Dhoni will have to strengthen ahead of the clash. With the batting depth of Royal Challengers Bangalore, the team will have to bowl really well if they are to contain them. Chennai Super Kings have plenty of options in the bowling department but they might want to boost their pace attack and thus bring in Ishwar Pandey for Pawan Negi.

Probable XI

1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Michael Hussey, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (c and wk), 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Pawan Negi/Ishwar Pandey, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Ashish Nehra

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The power of Chris Gayle, the versatility of Virat Kohli and the genius of AB de Villiers, combined with the raw aggression of Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan, makes the team's batting look complete. However, their tendency to crack under pressure is well documented and they will be aware that on the big stage, they will have to curb their tendency to choke. With the team composition in good shape, they might not make any changes.

Probable XI

1 Chris Gayle, 2 Virat Kohli (c), 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Mandeep Singh, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Sarfaraz Khan, 7 David Wiese, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Sreenath Aravind

Quotes

"We have played better cricket than previous seasons. In 2013, we did not qualify and that hurt." - Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli says the team is determined to do well in IPL 2015.

"We have always done well with our back to the wall, so that's what we can go to Ranchi with". - Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni highlights the determination of his team.

Stats

* AB de Villiers has a strike-rate of 158.29, the best in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. He also needs nine sixes to reach the 100-sixes mark in IPL.
* In their last encounter in Ranchi during IPL 2014, Royal Challengers Bangalore won a close match by five wickets against Chennai Super Kings.

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Cheteshwar Pujara gears up for English challenge

Cheteshwar Pujara said his stint with Yorkshire will be a test of his character, technique and toughness.© Getty

Most of the Indian batsmen will be busy with their respective franchises during the Indian Premier League 2015, bringing their T20 skills to the fore. On belter of tracks tailor-made for batsmen, it will be a feast for the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma. Meanwhile, India's Test number three Cheteshwar Pujara will be doing what he always does - wait for the loose deliveries to cash on, play the ball on merit and try to accumulate big scores in challenging conditions.

While the Indian Premier League is set to get off to a glitzy start, like always the case, Pujara will be away from all the limelight, working hard on his technique and focus in trying English conditions when he represents county champions Yorkshire in the upcoming county season. Mentioning that the stint with the county side will be a test of his "character, technique and toughness", Pujara reckons he will be up for the challenge.

In an interview to ESPNCricinfo, the 27-year-old right-handed batsman said: "They are challenging conditions and as a batsman you have to accept the challenge. When you score runs in those conditions you get a different confidence. So, technically you have to be correct. You have to be really focused; confidence has to be up to the mark. All the aspects of the game you really have to be very careful when you play in English conditions. So, in this way couple of months in Yorkshire will help me."

"The weather is completely different. So, first of all you need to get adjusted to the weather and the conditions. Whatever I've heard so far is that initially the ball might do more than what it does in the later stages of the season. So, as a batsman it will be challenging and I'm aware about it but when I'm going there I know that I will be tested - it is a test of my character, technique and my toughness. I'll take it as a challenge. Once you succeed in such conditions, it is a different satisfaction as a cricketer," Pujara said.

The past 12 months haven't been great for Pujara the Test cricketer as he failed to get going in England, while he also was not up to the mark in the Test series in Australia, leading to his axe from the playing eleven for the final Test of the series Down Under. While he admitted that his performance has dipped in the recent past, Pujara is eager to learn from the mistakes and take the best step forward.

"In Test matches, my start was really good; there were some phases where I accept that I didn't perform well but it happens. If you see a cricketer's career, nobody's always successful. You have those up and down phases. If I look at all the series, I did well in South Africa. England was a bad series although I did score in a couple of innings which were really crucial for the team.

"I feel number three is the kind of position where you don't just look at the number of runs you make but you also need to look at the team situation to make sure that the team does not lose another wicket. Once you see through the new ball, the middle-order batsmen get that benefit of playing against the old ball.

There is a role which is defined. I do accept that I got starts in Australia but could not convert those starts into a big innings which I'm known for," he said.

Pujara managed only 125 runs in six innings for Kings XI Punjab in the previous edition of IPL which forced the franchise to leave him out of the scheme of things. There were also no takers for him in the 2015 IPL auction, following which he signed up with Yorkshire. While Pujara is keen to establish himself as a front-line player in the limited-overs format, his exclusion from the 30-member
provisional Indian squad for the World Cup was proof that the selectors did not have the faith in him for the shorter formats.

However, Pujara has taken these setbacks in his stride and is confident of finding a place in the limited-overs squads soon. "If you look at the domestic circuit records, I've got a very good average as well as a decent strike rate and I've been successful even at India A level. It's just that I haven't played too many ODIs. So, I can't talk much about international level but if I can do it at the domestic and India A level - when I went to the UK and Australia there were decent fast bowlers against whom I could score runs - I'm very confident that i can do it at the international level. It's a matter of time and I'm very hopeful that my chance will come."

When asked about his future goals as part of the Indian team, Pujara said: "I just want to focus on the things that I can do for the team at number three and I have always enjoyed playing for the Indian team. I hope we get more success both at home and overseas. We did put up a good show in Australia though we didn't win too many games. Going ahead we would aim to win as many matches as possible."
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Irfan Pathan: I will play in any role for Chennai Super Kings

Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan is excited about the prospect of turning up for two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) Champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and is ready to take up any role the team offers him. Pathan is keen on using this chance to pave a path through to the Indian national team. After going unsold in the first session during this year's auction, Irfan, who last played for India in 2012 World T20, was lucky to be picked by the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led CSK. The Baroda southpaw wants to make the most of the opportunity.

"Obviously, the dream is to play for the country again. But at the same time, I should make sure that I go there step by step and that is what I am doing. I did well in the Ranji Trophy. I hope I can do well in the upcoming IPL as well. There are some matches coming up after the IPL season. Sooner or later, I will fulfill my dream. In 2011, people talked that it was going to be difficult to make a comeback but I told them that I will make a comeback and I did. I am saying it again - I am going to return in the national team and I am working towards it," said Irfan.

Irfan, of course, may face tough competition from other all-rounders in the side. "Having many all-rounders is beneficial for the team. I have had a discussion with Stephen Fleming (CSK coach) and he gave an idea as to what kind of a role he wants me to play. That is a team talk. For me, I am feeling very confident. It is just a matter of what Dhoni thinks in terms of how he is going to utlise me and how the team wants me to play. I think with the experience that I have, I can fit in any role. I just have to be ready mentally," he said.

Having represented Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils and SunRisers Hyderabad in the previous editions, Irfan is looking forward to re-unite with Dhoni.

"Obviously, it is a new team for me but there are lot of guys in the team that I know them very well. So, I am really excited to play with the most successful team in the IPL so far. And I am really excited to play under Dhoni. Hopefully, the season will be great as I had trained very well having bowled over 150 overs in the Ranji Trophy this season," he said. "I had played in different teams earlier. Compared to other teams, CSK has a pretty relaxed atmosphere."

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