Focus on pitch as RCB gear up for PBKS challenge

Royal Challengers Bengaluru seeks first home win against Punjab Kings in a bowler-friendly M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch.

Yet to record a win in these parts, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will feel that the comfort of home advantage has been missing in this season of the IPL. In the two games played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here, bowlers have had the upper hand, in contrast to the batting-friendly conditions seen at this venue in seasons past.

All eyes will stay on the pitch on Friday, when RCB takes on Punjab Kings.

With the surface easing up considerably as the night wears on, the toss has become a crucial factor. RCB captain Rajat Patidar, who has lost the toss in both outings here, will hope that he can call it right and bowl first.

RCB’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who forms an incisive pace duo alongside Josh Hazlewood, agreed that posting mammoth scores here is a thing of the past.

“The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is known for being batting friendly, but this pitch is not what it used to be,” Bhuvneshwar said here on Thursday.

RCB enjoyed a successful chase in the previous outing, when the top-order of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal crushed Rajasthan Royals. Salt, explosive in the PowerPlay, is slowly starting to find form.

PBKS, meanwhile, is coming off a thrilling victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who had a long tenure at RCB, struck gold with a four-wicket haul against KKR. Like K.L. Rahul did last week, could Chahal put one over his former teammates?