New Delhi: Bangalore boasts of some cracking all-rounder and specialists that gives them a definite edge over the other nine teams in the Champions League T20. Here's a quick look at who we think will be the gamechangers for the Royal Challengers.
Jacques Kallis: He is regarded as one of the finest all-rounders ever to have played the game and his figures in all formats exemplify that. Only a few can match his class with the bat and his deceptive pace and bounce always helps his side to pick up important breakthroughs. Kallis will be playing at home so his experience in local conditions could be extremely helpful for the Challengers. If the team's strike bowlers fail to provide early wickets, the classy South African is well capable to take at least few. Continue reading below
Anil Kumble: Though the former Indian captain is over 39-year-old, the exuberance that he possess can easily challenge even someone who is about to make his debut. Kumble has shown what he can do as a leader. He got Royal Challengers' command after Rahul Dravid and Kevin Pietersen failed to take the team forward in the IPL. Runner-up in the second edition and a third-place finish in the third edition speaks volumes about the motivation and zeal Kumble has enthused into the team. But the CLT20 will bring new challenges for him and his team and it depends how he motivates them to perform at a bigger stage.
Dale Steyn: The South African pacer could be helpful for any team in any condition, but with home support behind him, the fast bowler could easily destroy the opposition's batting order. His in-swinging deliveries of over 150 kph to left handers (out swingers to right-handed batsmen) has earned him a lot of wickets so far. His overs up front can set up the match for the team.
Rahul Dravid: One of stalwarts of Indian cricket, Dravid has proved his detractors wrong time and again. Many had doubted his ability to fit in the 50-over side representing the country, but the right-handed batsman proved his worth by scoring over ten thousand runs in the format, while continuing his good form in five-day matches. His hunger for runs continued even in the shortest form of the game and had improved his skills to match some of the best in the business. He would like to demonstrate his skills once again on the bouncy tracks of South Africa and his knowledge about the game would surely help Kumble in making strategies off the field.
Manish Pandey: The 20-year-old showed the glimpse of his talent in the second edition of the IPL, that held in South Africa, and he became the first Indian batsman to score a century in the cash-rich event. The right hander also had a brilliant few seasons for his state side Karnataka in Ranji trophy. He opened the batting with Jacques Kallis in the last IPL season and could be given the same job in the CL T20. His agility in the field could also help lifting the spirit of the team in tough situations.
Praveen Kumar: Though only a medium pacer, Kumar's ability to swing the ball both ways and extract bounce even on placid wickets, could easily help him trouble the best batsmen participating in the Champions League. He hasn't done justice with his batting abilities at international level yet, but if he can connect few balls at the middle of his willow then he would be equally useful at lower down the order.
