Cricket Analysis ipl 10

It was a different Kolkata Knight Riders team that Royal Challengers Bangalore were up against during their match over outing with the bat. When KKR batted first, they folded for 131 having added as many as 65 runs within the powerplay. Their subsequent collapse, which was close on the heels of their loss against Gujarat Lions, fired up their captain  who went as far as saying that the players could lose their positions if they failed to show intensity on the field. The result was RCB being bowled out for 49 - the lowest total in IPL history.

RCB VS SRH

WINNER RCB

SULTAN SIKANDAR

In a column for Hindustan Times, Gambhir stated that he was seething with anger following their below-par showing with the bat and made his displeasure felt to his team-mates, who according to him were 'shocked and surprised' with his reaction.

"For the first time in my seven years with KKR I was fuming. Loss against gujrat lions was still haunting. On the back of that, we collapsed from 65 for 1 to 131 all out against RCB. It was unacceptable. Normally I eat something during the break. Instead, I went and stood underneath the shower for about 3 to 4 minutes thinking it will cool me down. It didn't. I was trying to arrest my emotions but was failing miserably," Gambhir wrote.

"As the innings break was nearing the end I got the entire team together. There may be 60-odd thousand roaring outside our dressing room but inside it was so silent that you could hear people think! I started speaking and let go of all I had. I wanted intensity from my teammates. I wanted them to fight. I wanted them to win. I told them whoever dropped on intent should understand that this could be his last game for KKR, at least in my captaincy," he stated.

'Fairplay' points didn't matter much to Gambhir, who urged his team-mates to get under the skin of the opposition players and not let them have it easy out in the middle. The captain, who set attacking fields for his bowlers and went all-out with his pacers - despite spinners doing the job earlier for RCB - made a statement himself by standing close-in.

The KKR skipper was also lavish in his praise of Nathan Coulter-Nile, who according to him bowled like the wind and made things difficult for the RCB top-order. The Australian pacer made a huge impact, accounting for big names like Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, and eventually finished with figures of 3 for 21.

"When I write this almost 24 hours later, I remember some of them looking at me, shocked and surprised. For most part of my stint as KKR leader I have always been one of the boys, easy-going, relaxed and a bit of a prankster. I have never imposed myself but the batting collapse hurt me. I thought that we were not taking enough pride. I don't know whether TV cameras or microphones caught it but we were chirping all the time when RCB were batting. I am happy to lose spots on the IPL Fairplay award list but I can not see my team slipping on the points table.

"The team responded brilliantly. The tone was set by Nathan Coulter-Nile. During my stint with Justin Langer at Perth, I had seen Coulter-Nile train with the Western Australia state team. He is a mean looking guy, strong as an ox. We didn't speak a word as I passed on the ball to him. He knew his job. The Aussie bowled like the wind and I supported him with attacking fields. My being under the helmet was more of a statement than a catching position," Gambhir revealed.

Gambhir was also pleased with the way Umesh Yadav troubled Chris Gayle, who was fresh of a blistering knock against Gujarat Lions, and he added that the top-notch fielding effort further helped KKR sustain the pressure. "There was another sight which would have pleased every supporter of Indian cricket. An Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav having 'Boss of Universe' Chris Gayle ducking and weaving was the highlight of the game. Add to all this, our catching was top draw."

With five wins from seven matches - their latest victory being the 82-run mauling of RCB - KKR are sitting pretty at the second spot. Meanwhile, RCB, reduced to the bottom of the table with only two wins from seven games, will be hoping for some inspiration from their captain Kohli, who was scathing in his team's performance following the loss against KKR.