AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle – Royal Challengers Bangalore batsmen to watch out for against the Delhi Daredevils
The Royal Challengers Bangalore go into the match against the Delhi Daredevils looking for a win that will earn them the two points they need as they attempt to climb up the Indian Premier League table. With the likes of South African wicket keeper AB de
Villiers, newly appointed Sri Lanka Captain Tillakaratne Dilshan, Indian superstar Virat Kohli and West Indies’ rebel Chris Gayle amongst their ranks the Royal Challengers have a batting line up that on their day can destroy any opposition bowling attack.
AB de Villiers
After a fairly solid showing at the ICC World Cup the South African batsman has earned himself a place in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side and gone on to justify the hefty price tag during the auctioning process.
Starting the tournament on the front foot de Villiers scored a half century that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. The 54 run knock consisted of five spectacular sixes and only one four as the batsman announced himself in the IPL.
De Villiers next big performance came against the Chennai Super Kings, when improved on his 54 runs in the opening match with an emphatic 65 run knock that came from just 44 deliveries.
Boasting the highest average, of 52.33 runs per match, amongst his batsmen in the Royal Challengers Bangalore side De Villiers is the side’s most consistent batsmen and will give any opposing bowler a difficult time. The Delhi Daredevils have best be vary
when the South African is at the crease.
Tillakaratne Dilshan
Buoyed by the recent appointment as the Sri Lankan National team’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan seems to have picked up from where he left off in the world cup with a host of consistent performances with the bat.
Starting off as only Dilshan could, the talented batsmen seemed to adapt effortlessly into the T20 form of the game, with a scintillating 59 run innings. After a quiet few matches the batsman popped up with a useful 38 run knock in the chase against the
Kolkata Knight Riders’ total in the second innings.
While Dilshan has not gone on to get huge scores for the side, the stability he brings to the side helps the rest of the team get into their stride, and one can expect the explosive Sri Lankan to come up with a blinder of an innings at any time. Something
the Delhi Daredevils will do well to take note of.
Virat Kohli
World Cup winner Virat Kohli got off to an impressive start to the fourth season of the IPL and has remained consistent in recent matches.
Kohli’s average of 42.75 every match is an impressive statistic, one only bested by de Villiers in the Royal Challengers squad.
Scoring 71 runs off just 51 deliveries against the Deccan Chargers Kohli displayed the kind of performance that make him an asset in any side. His strength remains in his balance to both take the lead and attack, while at the same time being able to support
a batsman who’s already on the assault, as he did with Chris Gayle in the recent romp of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Chris Gayle
Even though the rebellious West Indies batsman has played only one match for his IPL team he remains a constant threat. The reason being that Chris Gayle seems the type of player the T20 format was made for.
Gayle’s 102 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders was a performance that would have had the entire league’s attention turned towards him and the danger he poses.
While it is too soon to come to too many conclusions on the player who has played only one match, one thing is for certain and that is when Chris Gayle takes to the crease the bowler better be on the top of his game.