Chennai: Seeking to consolidate their position after a winning start, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore will have their task cut out as they take on a determined Surnrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League here on Wednesday.
While RCB began their campaign with a morale-boosting win over five-time defending champions Mumbai Indians at the same venue, the David Warner-led SRH lost to Kolkata Knight Riders in their tournament opener.
Having put up a decent performance in the first game, RCB will be strengthened further when the immensely-talented Devdutt Padikkal makes the team after his recovery from COVID-19.
Padikkal has said he is now completely ready to play his part in the IPL and confident of replicating his stupendous domestic form in the ongoing league.
He contracted the deadly virus on March 22 and was in isolation, but has since completely recovered and resumed practice with his RCB teammates.
In the event Padikkal is unable to return for Wednesday’s game, RCB will stick to the opening pair of Kohli and Washington Sundar.
RCB might try out the likes of Mohammed Azharuddeen and Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa in the coming matches.
Kohli and the incomparable AB de Villiers will be the key men again for RCB in batting, with Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell hoping to make invaluable contributions with the willow.
He looked good in the first game in RCB jersey, and has the backing of the team management, including skipper Kohli.
Barring the trio of Kohli, de Villiers and Maxwell, RCB look thin on batting and that’s why Padikkal’s presence at the top is important for them.
The 20-year-old Karnataka left-hander was RCB’s highest run-getter in IPL 2020 with 473 runs from 15 matches, including five half-centuries in what was his debut season.
Padikkal continued rich form in the last Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (218 runs at an average of 43.60 in six matches) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (737 runs in seven matches).
After their failure in the opener, Rajat Patidat and Washington would look to make amends against SRH.
Almost all of RCB’s bowlers were economical against MI’s formidable batting with medium pacer Harshal Patel returning excellent figures of 5/27. They will certainly look for an encore.
—PTI

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