Pressure on Rajasthan Royals to end on winning note against Chennai.
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00:00How do you sum up and what do you feel about RCB's chances? They've got a pretty good chance now.
00:15Hello, good evening. Welcome to yet another episode of Straight Back with Gulf News and Mr
00:21Cricket UAE. Unfortunately, Mr Cricket UAE, Mr Anish Sajjan, he is not with us this evening.
00:28This is Gautam with you. And my guest for the evening is A.K. Satish, sports editor of Gulf
00:34News. Welcome Satish. Thank you. Thanks, Gautam. Yeah. Now, first up today, of course, you know,
00:44it was it was really a masterclass by Virat Kohli and Fabio Plessy, because they knew that
00:51if they need to get that 169 in good time, they needed a good start from them.
00:57Now, that yeah, so that happened. I mean, they really raised their game to that level,
01:01but we'll come to that later. How do you how do you sum up and what do you feel about
01:08RCB's chances? They've got a pretty good chance now.
01:11Yeah, I think that it's straightforward now. Delhi has to win. If Delhi loses,
01:18then they're out. And if Delhi wins, and hopefully they have a very good run rate,
01:23so they should go through. So it's a do or die game for Delhi. And given the
01:30chances that they should do well, because they have got two wins in the last two games.
01:35But you never know Delhi, which team we are going to see on that particular day,
01:40because there are some games they have played exceedingly well. And then some games they have
01:45not lived up to the expectations or lived up to the team potential that it had. And I think it
01:52will be a wonderful game day after tomorrow. Right. Yeah, basically, you know, all the last
02:00jigsaw will be settled on Saturday. Right now, what we have is just for the viewers,
02:06I mean, we have got Gujarat Titans, they stand unaffected because they are still on 20 points
02:12after their 14 games. Lucknow Supergiants have reached 18. Now, Rajasthan Royals even
02:21if they lose tomorrow, they've got a very healthy run rate, they will be still on 16.
02:26Now the issue, as Satish says, is between RCB and Delhi. So after that, Sunday's game will be
02:34primarily of, you know, no consequence, because they both are at 12 points, and they can't make
02:41it anymore. Right. Now, first up, you know, possibly what you know, Hardik Pandey is going
02:50to say after today's game is that, you know, they wanted to, you know, they wanted to check out
02:54on scenarios by batting first. But what do you make of that decision to, you know, like try and
03:02chase a total on a wicket, which was, which showed a fair bit of grit early on? But Gautam, I think
03:08if you look at now with the wickets are so much used, I think the teams that are winning the
03:14tosses nowadays are electing to bat. Because the due factor, more than the due factor, the wicket
03:19crumbles more in the second innings. So the ball is gripping and it's not coming out of the bat. So
03:24I think most of the teams, if you look at in the last few games, they win the toss and elect to
03:28bat. Because I think the initial part where they win the toss and put the other team into bat is
03:33gone. Because the wickets are now completely overused. And we are almost on the last three
03:38games away from the end of the league phase. So I think even tomorrow or day after, the teams that
03:45win the toss, I'm sure they are going to bat first. Because at least you have some certain
03:49firmness at the start of the game. So as the game progresses, the ball will start gripping more.
03:55But again, like the total was not enough probably though. Hardik Pandya feels that
04:00it was a par score. I would have said another 10-15 runs would have put more pressure on
04:06Bangalore. But again, when Virat Kohli and Faf, they get into the group, no total is big enough.
04:14Yeah. I mean, see the thing is, that's what. It was very clear that Virat could take up the
04:20role of the aggressor in the power play. And he, you know, even when he was... There was a
04:25clear ploy to attack Rashid Khan today. Don't you think so? Though initially, he eventually had the
04:31last laugh, but it was little too late in the day. And it seemed that he was batting on a different
04:36surface. So what was the difference? Was it the intent? What do you think? Or that over from Shami,
04:42I mean, where he milked him? Gautam, when Virat gets into his group, basically what was missing
04:50was his confidence. The moment he comes out and if you look at him, he was not getting out to the
04:57opposition. He was getting out to himself, basically, if you look at it. So probably today,
05:02he didn't have any of those extra baggage. He must have come today free. Because more importantly,
05:08what would have happened is, his personal form wouldn't have mattered today. It wouldn't have
05:11been in his mind, because he knows the team cost depends on him. So his thought must have been
05:16completely on the team. So he took away his form, which was good, because it made him forget it.
05:22And then the moment he forgot and he was in his natural space, Virat is Virat. We all know what
05:29he could do. Right, right. Yeah. And the other thing is, I mean, this is the unit, I mean,
05:37yes, they are still somewhat, you know, that iffy thing is there because of that horrible match,
05:43which they had in terms of the run rate. But today, the RCB whom we saw, I mean, they look
05:51quite potent. I mean, you know, we know that there was a bit of an up and down campaign that
05:56they've had. But they look quite potent in terms of their bowling attack as well. What do you feel
06:01about it? Bowling, they were always good. Only thing is, now they have more spinners like Maxwell
06:08and Hastaranga. Of course, Hazlewood has been the best bowler for Chennai last year also. So
06:14unfortunately, he was not clicking almost every match. But still, he's a very good bowler. Maybe
06:19the last game, he gave away too many runs. So they had a very balanced attack this year, Gautam.
06:25Like, if you look at, probably they had one of the best balanced attacks in this entire
06:32last 10 years or so. Because they used to have these one or two little holes where that would
06:37sink that ship. But this year, thanks to the bad form of Kohli or even not the best form of Faf,
06:47the players like Lomore and Pathidar, they came and they filled in. So I would say this is
06:52probably one of the best teams in the last decade, I would say. Because earlier, they were only
06:58dependent on either AB or they used to depend on Gale or they used to depend on Kohli. So one of
07:04them used to perform well. It's a team game at the end of it. So if you don't get the entire team
07:10doing well as a unit or someone taking the responsibility on a given day, it becomes
07:15difficult. So that way, I was surprised actually the amount of losses they had and the place where
07:21they are in, they should have been topping the table. But nevertheless, they still are in with
07:26a chance. Right, right. Yeah, I mean, so the thing is, so basically, we can, you know, we will have
07:33to certainly wait till Saturday before we decide on the final lineup. But the issue is, again,
07:40you know, after this set of matches, you're going into two different, you know, two fresh set of
07:45wickets, both at Eden Gardens as well as Ahmedabad. Now, Eden Gardens, the kind of, you know,
07:53early feedback that I'm getting is they are trying to ensure and that's what the trend had
07:58been over the last five, six years that the kind of wickets that Mumbai had provided, they're trying
08:03to look at that where there's a bit of both bat and ball. So there, if we look at, you know,
08:10Gujarat versus Lucknow Supergiants, and three and four, we don't know as yet,
08:15where do you think this is leading to? I mean, it's still early days, maybe we can do this
08:21discussion on Saturday, but where do you think it's going to lead? If either Delhi or Bangalore,
08:28they come in, they will be more, Gujarat, anyway, they are quite secure in the sense,
08:34they have seen the worst, and they have come out of the worst times. Now, over the last 14 games,
08:40which they have played, they have somehow sometimes come back from literally on the verge
08:44of from the jaws of defeat, they have come back, for example, Chennai game, where they were
08:49completely down and out. And Miller played a brilliant knock. So, and they have many players,
08:55like not just Aditya Pandya, if Aditya is not scoring, Devatia is scoring, if Devatia is not
08:59scoring, Miller is scoring, if both of them are not scoring, someone else is scoring. So,
09:04they have a complete team, and they have seen all the pitfalls and everything. So,
09:09they are well-rounded team in that sense. And I would say somebody like a Delhi or a Royal
09:14Challengers, because they would have, they have also struggled to reach where they are.
09:19So, I would say, these two teams will have a slightly upper hand than maybe Lucknow Supergiants.
09:26And if at all Rajasthan Royals come in, I see them having a big disadvantage because they have
09:31been riding on Josh Butler's performance all through. Because the five or six games,
09:38he single-handedly won for them with the knock he played. So, that becomes a bit crucial there
09:43in the knockout phase, which we have seen in the past. Gale used to score runs in tons in the league
09:48games. But the knockout pressure could put more pressure on the player who has been scoring,
09:54performing single-handedly, then that will work as a disadvantage.
09:59Right. I mean, there is a bit, you're right in the sense, there is a,
10:02you know, history always says that the team that eventually wins, they don't have
10:08a completely smooth ride through. And there will be the bumps, they will come back and possibly
10:14peak on those two days where it matters. I mean, we have seen this happen with Mumbai,
10:19with Chennai so many times. And even Kolkata, I think once when they won it,
10:24they came back from the brink, I think.
10:26They did. They did. And last year was a very good example when, you know, who thought that
10:30they would make the final. Final, correct. So, that's it. Actually, it will be a pity that,
10:36you know, one of them, I mean, be it RCB or Delhi, may have to, you know…
10:41No, but Gautam, there is an important game for RR tomorrow against CSK. But they shouldn't,
10:48Rajasthan should not lose big time. Even if they lose, they should ensure that
10:52their run rate doesn't slip too low, this thing down. Of course, they have got a plus three,
10:57which is way too much for them to slip. But they shouldn't be in such a stage where
11:04they should not come into the fourth or third. So, they should also ensure that they need to
11:10win. And that win also will help them going into the playoffs. Obviously,
11:14you need to have a victory. Yeah. Nothing can be taken for granted,
11:20except those first two. Yes, that's right. So, yes, that's what it is. And you have already
11:29spoken a bit about tomorrow's game. But yes, Rajasthan Royals versus Chennai Super Kings.
11:35Chennai are already looking at next year's campaign. But then having said that, they can
11:40spoil a party or two. Now, what's your take that, you know, whom do you see going through in tomorrow's
11:46game? I would say Chennai, because they have nothing to lose. And with the Royals challengers
11:55already on 16 and Delhi almost close to just one win away from their last match. The pressure is
12:02more on Rajasthan to at least maintain the run rate and keep their position. So, I would say
12:09Chennai has an upper hand. And of course, that's my favourite team. So, I'll go with Chennai.
12:15Right. Right. Yeah, I mean, if you ask me, I think that definitely Chennai has this,
12:21you know, the weight, it depends on, you know, how they're performing on a given day.
12:25But yes, I mean, on the note, the campaign is ending. It's very difficult to see Chennai or
12:31Mumbai pulling something out of the woodwork over the next two days. But if that happens,
12:36that will really make this last stretch even more exciting. And Gautam, you have to also look at one
12:42more thing. Ever since the last set of matches, last three, four games, Butler has not been
12:49scoring because the wickets have slowed down. The ball is not coming onto the bat the way he wanted
12:54it to come. So, he's a brilliant timer of the ball, but the ball is not coming on nicely. So,
12:59they have to really look at tomorrow as a case in point where if he fails, they need to still go
13:05ahead and win the match tomorrow. That will give them the confidence going forward to the playoffs.
13:10Right. So, that's about it. I mean, on that note, we will wrap this up tonight. And again,
13:18we come back tomorrow after the Rajasthan Royals versus Chennai Super Kings game to take a look at,
13:23you know, how next day's game will pan out and also about next week's action.
13:27Thank you so much for joining us. Good night. See you tomorrow.