Bangalore: The Royal Challengers of Vijay Mallya ownership and Anil Kumble mentorship (guidance) have entered the finals due on Saturday today by back door, to challenge Chennai supers team on its home ground in Chepauk, having beaten the formidable Mumbai Indians under Sachin Tendulkar in Chennai by 6 wickets, or 43 runs in the first play –off. That is an indication that Bangalorean team is destined to win IPL-4, unless they threw away the match, fearing M.S. Dhoni in Chennai. It is upto Gayle Kohli and Vettori to achieve goal.
Christopher Gayle who played only 6 innings out of 16, made 2 centuries, 3 half centuries, to take 5 times Man-of-the –match(Rs1 lakh)awards, with a zero(0) and 8 in another two games. But he did not disappoint RCB anytime, even with a first ball out for zero run. He could bowl, and dance on the field. What was a loss to West Indies cricket Board, was a huge gain to RCB team here.
RCB lost the toss and won the game against Mumbai. Sachin will take new, along with Yuvraj and Gambhir. Suresh Raina heads to West Indies as Indian ODI skipper after today IPL 4 finals.
The IPL-4 spoilt the victory celebrations of India in the 2011 world cup ODI tournament. But it created many new opportunities for smaller unknown players, and brought unexpected results upto the final match due in Chennai today. Gayle put on the Orange Cap.
The new team announced for West Indies tour by India soon has Abhinav Mukund as a new face Harbhajan (bowler) is the new ODI vice captain for 50 overs VVS Laxman is test vice captain. Virat Kohli also enters test, Murali Vijay is regular opener. Rahul Dravid is also in the team for tests. Shikhar Dhawan (opener) and Manoj Tiwari are changers. S.Badrinath(Tamilnadu) has crasher in as a batsman. There are 2 wicket-keepers, Parthiv Patel and Wriddhiman Saha in ODI there are 5 specialist bowlers and all-rounder, Yusuf Pathan in the 15-man team Dhoni leads the test team only.
The IPL -4 finds on Saturday is a money- grosser, with batsmen and bowlers of class in both teams making hay in sunshine.