IPL 9: Time for Virat Kohli to figure out the right combination for RCB

02 May,2016 09:17 AM IST |   |  Satish Viswanathan

 When a team makes six changes in one match and four for another match, but with no change in the result, then you know the side is in trouble and in more ways than one

RCB players led by captain Virat Kohli (extreme left) celebrate the wicket of a Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman during an Indian Premier League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad on Saturday. Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 15 run


Bangalore: When a team makes six changes in one match and four for another match, but with no change in the result, then you know the side is in trouble and in more ways than one.

RCB players led by captain Virat Kohli extreme left celebrate the wicket of a Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman during an Indian Premier League match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad on Saturday. Sunrisers Hyderabad won by 15 runs. Pic/AFP

The Royal Challengers Bangalore RCB may have started the tournament knowing that their bowling is on the weaker side, but by not allowing the bowlers to settle down, they have caused themselves more harm. You wouldn't be entirely wrong in thinking that perhaps the opposition batsmen have been less harmful towards the RCB bowlers.

No doubt the ruling out of Mitchell Starc was a big blow as was the loss of spinner Samuel Badree, the ICC's top-ranked T20 bowler, but that's part and parcel of the game.

Merry-go-round
What isn't is playing someone like Harshal Patel one match, S Aravind in another, Varun Aaron in between and then bringing one back for the other every match.

It's like playing a game of merry-go-around but with the fun element missing.The joke will not be lost on Gautam Gambhir, who is likely to end his career as one of the all-time great T20 captains. Now, here's someone, who knows exactly what team he wants. The Kolkata Knight Riders KKR skipper, like his Bangalore counterpart Virat Kohli, has been very much amongst the runs, but more than his batting, it is his marshalling of resources that has been spot on.

Kohli should take a leaf or two out of Gambhir's book in an effort to reverse RCB's losing trend. Tonight's encounter between the two sides would be a good time to do so. If only Kohli can get his Indian bowling personnel right.

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