Bangalore Royal Challengers - A review

Two matches two batting failures and 1-1 win-loss record rounds off the opening weekend for BRC. The win made possible by an extraordinary knock by Dravid and some very good bowling. I would say the best bowler against Rajasthan was Praveen Kumar, though he ended with just 3 wickets.

Let me just write a few lines about Dravid. He showed the world how to bat in such a situation. Every team irrespective of the format needs a Dravid in the side. As Sachin showed earlier, we need some one scoring at around a run a ball and batting through. Dravid scored at a strike rate of 140 and finally his score was the difference between the two sides.

Bowling has been generally good, except for the first ten overs of the second match, we have had good 30 overs with ball. Praveen Kumar has been doing really well and its heartening to see Kumble back among wickets. As Pieterson said, class cant be bought. The weak link in the team has been Steyn. His pace is being used by the batsmen and he is being hit to all parts of the ground. He is starting where he finished last season and that isnt good for BRC.

Batting has been pathetic and generally really bad. Pieterson has got the team composition wrong and the batting order wrong which is making the matters worse. The weakest link here is Ross Taylor at no. 3. I believe this place belongs to Pieterson. The other worrying factor is lack of experience at no. 6,7 and 8. The likes of Boucher will be of great help. Ross Taylor doesnt deserve a place in the eleven.

Fielding has been below par, the missed catches in the second match cost us a lot. Definitely a thing we can improve.

So here is my team for the next match:
1.Robbin Uthappa
2.Jessy Ryder
3.KP
4.Dravid
5.Kallis
6.Boucher
7.Gaurav Dhiman
8.Balchander Akhil
9.Praveen Kumar
10.Vinay Kumar
11.Kumble

I open with Uthappa and Ryder. Its a potentially explosive team, which can get us great starts. Utahppa has looked lackluster but we have no other choice. No. 3 belong to Pieterson. A player like him has to stamp his authority early on in the match. Then I have Dravid, who is scoring fluently and will carry the innings till the end. Depending on the situation I will have Kallis or Boucher come in next. If we are in commanding position, it makes sense to have Boucher come ahead and throw his bat around. I think it is criminal not to play Boucher in the team as we are playing in SA and we need his experience to play in with the lower order batsmen.
At No. 7 I have a surprise and that is Dhaman, we all saw what he can do in the U-19 world cup, he is a explosive batsman and a useful medium-pacer. Kholi has been given too many chances and needs to be kept out of the side for his own good. Then I have Akhil, Akhil gets the nod ahead of Kholi because of the bowling option. Moreover he is a useful or useless as Kholi in the batting department. He is followed by the bowlers, Praveen, Vinay and Kumble who are no mugs with the bat either.

The bowling is really strong, we have Kumble, Praveen and Vinay in a resonably good form and the remaining overs needs to be shared between, Kallis, Ryder, Dhaman and Akhil. I would have Boucher behind the stumps which is quite obvious.

Finally I feel, Boucher cant be ignored any longer and Taylor needs to pack his bags.
Lets see what happens tomorrow. Best of luck BRC.

PS: Did you guys watch Shane Warne spin a mile in the first match. What a player- a true genius.

Ross Taylor might score a century in the next match, but I would still drop him.