General / Frank Gregan / 17 April 2009 /

Having got it all wrong last time in terms of the balance of the team and the approach to batting, the team dubbed "The Royally Challenged" last year went out and bought Kevin Pietersen and Nathan Bracken and that could make all the difference, says Frank Gregan.

The Bangalore Royal Challengers come into this tournament knowing that "things can only get better!" Their star studded side flopped miserably last year managing a meagre four wins from their fourteen matches and finishing in seventh place with only the Deccan Chargers below them.

The expectation level last year was high but it soon became apparent that the balance of the side was all wrong. They had some magnificent cricketers in their ranks but Twenty20 requires more than good forward defensive strokes and an ability to find line and length. They became known as the "Test" side of the competition and were mocked as the "Royally Challenged." Kallis, Chanderpaul and Dravid are three of the world's best batsmen but their technically correct game is not what Twenty20 demands. All three had a tournament they would want to forget.

There is a place for the technically gifted batsman in this format of the game but two of them together at the crease moving the scoreboard along in singles is not a winning formula. Balance is what is required, explosive hitting at one end and a cool head at the other holding everything together. That cool head must also be able to clear the ropes when the situation requires it.

Bangalore have recruited three highly explosive batsmen which will give them that balance and if they get anywhere near to their best form will make them the batting line up that every other side in the competition will fear. Jesse Ryder, Robin Uthappa and Kevin Pietersen are all capable of winning matches single-handedly; collectively they are capable of carnage!

The appointment of Pietersen as skipper before his return to international duty halfway through the tournament is somewhat perplexing. KP is not in the greatest form of his life at the moment and having shown the diplomacy of a scud missile whilst in charge of England he is a surprise choice given the other candidates in the Bangalore dressing room. In addition to that he is as about as popular as a cold sore on a prom night in his native South Africa and the locals will be willing him to fall flat on his face.

There are those who subscribe to the theory that "cometh the hour, cometh the debacle!" but not in this case. KP has the ability and the arrogance to put two fingers up to the entire cricketing world and grab this tournament by the scruff of the neck. He can get Bangalore off to the start they need during the first six games and leave the rest to Kallis and Co.

There is little doubt that the strength of this team lies in its batting but they also welcome to their ranks one of the finest limited over bowlers of his generation in Nathan Bracken. The Aussie was absent from the first IPL with a knee injury and he will be looking to show everybody what they missed last time around. Sadly, as with Pietersen it looks as if his tournament involvement will be curtailed by international duty.

But nobody knows these wickets better than Dale Steyn and he will be desperate to succeed in his home country. He is one of five South Africans in the Bangalore squad, once again showing that the management have learned the lesson of getting the right balance, the affection for the five home players should just about equate to the animosity likely to be shown to KP! There is no getting away from it - the bowling is going to be a problem but there are enough all rounders in the squad that can step up to the plate. Let's be realistic - if the bowling department was as strong as the batting line up they would be odds-on favourites!

As it is there is a whopping [8.8] available on them to win the tournament. They are slight favourites at [1.94] to get off to a flying start and defeat the defending champions Rajasthan on Saturday which is indicative of the optimism in the camp. [8.8] is a great price and they will give you a run for your money and the new signings will ensure that "things will get better!"

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