Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super kings
IPL 2009 Semi Finals
Anil Kumble, who not too long ago was criticized and almost forced into retirement for his 'defensive' captaincy- has proved a point or too, to his detractors by humbling the mighty batting line-up of Chennai Super Kings. And he did that by a containing strategy rather than tactical punches, as characterized by Shane Warne's success with the Rajasthan Royals last year. The important lesson is that, your team and execution have to back the approach you choose.
Firstly, he chose to field, putting the first innings dot-ball dilemma onto the opponents. The pitch was good but slow, so Kumble had a chance to plan his bowling around that fact (Kallis, Praveen Kumar, plus spin), and allow singles to key players and slip in dots as well. As a result, Chennai could not runaway with any momentum, as they could not really estimate the target.
Hayden was pinned from around his leg stump with options to work it square on the leg side for singles. Kumble slipped in googlies- and Hayden tried to cut and almost got caught at short extra cover (Mumbai Indians had rendered Hayden motionless in the league phase, with Harbhajan bowling the same line). However, Parthiv Patel got off the blocks very well, and it was evident that they had no restrictive plans for him, bowling conventional lengths around off stump.
Dhoni and Raina got singles against the spinners (Kumble and Van der Merve) but Bangalore would take that, since this was not a pitch where wickets in hand would translate to a burst of runs in the end (which is perhaps why Dhoni promoted himself at number 3). In the death overs, again there were many balls wide of the crease, with Oram and Morkel getting only singles to third man or straighter on the off side.
Kumble was clinical in his execution and confident that the uncertainty of not knowing a target would make it difficult for Chennai to bat themselves in (Remember, in T20 the risk is often about a side not playing itself in).
Chasing 147, Bangalore were exactly aware how to pace themselves and not go for anything extravagant. It is easier to say that, but the new kid on the block of Indian Cricket- Manish Pandey provided the strike rate with deft touch play, to make it a run-a-ball game for Bangalore.
It was not easy as it sounds, as Muralidaran was weaving his magic for Chennai. Perhaps, he came on a bit too late, with the damage already done in the first 6 overs (could Murali have bowled the 5th/6th over- Dravid would not like to hit him over the inner fielders; and Pandey who looked good against pace had never dealt with Murali).
All in all, it was Kumble's deep and subtle plans to gambit away some singles- without really trying anything special in bowling that allowed Chennai to get to a good score, but only sort of good.
Will it work for him in the finals against Deccan? I can tell you that Gilchrist will not be playing his natural game- he will have to earn it. I reckon that he will not be getting balls to cut and pull, but will have to fetch them from outside off or be forced to slog them off the front foot.
Another good day of strategic subtleties from 'Karpov' Kumble, might just do it for Bangalore. If so, the celebrations, though, will be anything but subtle.
Saumil
Mumbai
23 May 2009
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