Come Tuesday, RCB will be playing an IPL final for the fourth time at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, after finishing as runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 editions. They are up against PBKS, who are in an IPL final just for the second time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
PBKS and RCB had finished in first and second spots in the league stage, with the latter winning over the former in Qualifier 1 at Mullanpur. \"When you have a team doing well like we did in the first half, you\u2019re almost assured of playing the same 12 for most games unless there\u2019s an injury. So you have a group of players, at least eight to ten, who know they might not start or play in that game.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cKeeping their motivation levels up, keeping them hungry, and making sure that when the opportunity comes, they\u2019re ready for it is one of the biggest challenges. I must admit, Andy and the group have tried really hard, and they have nailed the process which has kept players not only hungry but also improving.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBecause when they improve, they feel they\u2019ll get back better cricketers, either for the domestic sides or for the international sides. That has been a feature of what we\u2019ve tried to achieve in this short two-month period. I would like to think, and this is feedback only the players can give, that we have genuinely made them slightly better than where they were when we came in,\u201d said Karthik in a video posted by the franchise on their YouTube account on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
RCB also had to bring in Mayank Agarwal as a replacement for injured Devdutt Padikkal, while bringing in Blessing Muzarabani and Tim Seifert as overseas replacements of Lungi Ngidi and Jacob Bethell, who missed the playoffs stage due to national duties. In between, Bethell filled in for an ill Phil Salt as the opener alongside the talismanic Virat Kohli.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you prepare for an auction, you prepare for starting 12 without a doubt. But then comes the rest of the players who could play in case of loss of form, injury, etc. We were most proud of that aspect of our auction. The kind of players we chose, almost everyone who stepped in found a way to deliver for the team. Credit should go to individuals more than anything else. They were waiting for an opportunity, seeing how this team functioned.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThey enjoyed being part of the team, but most importantly, when the opportunity came, they grabbed it with both hands and did a really nice job. Jacob Bethell coming in for Phil Salt is a good example. The innings he played, 50 in the second match, was just pure class. Everyone was happy to watch those players,\u201d added Karthik.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Further talking about how Agarwal came on board as Padikkal\u2019s replacement, Karthik explained, \u201cWhen somebody gets ruled out, it\u2019s obviously unfortunate, but you try to replace that player as best you can. Devdutt\u2019s injury happened, and then there\u2019s a process to figure out when he will be ready.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen we knew he wasn\u2019t going to be ready, we went through the scouting process. The scouting process is very strong. Malolan Rangarajan heads it and one of Mo Bobat\u2019s greatest strengths was how well he scouted for the English team. The process we go through is quite fascinating.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen Malolan goes through the names we want, it\u2019s very close to how we look at players and what we do, and then the whole group sits and decides. It was obvious that Mayank is the right choice. We know what he\u2019s done before. He\u2019s a local boy as well, and he\u2019s won so many games with the bat. It almost became a simple choice once that name was given.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mo Bobat, RCB\u2019s Director of Cricket, further spoke about how the side adapted to challenges in their way, including of not winning games initially at their home venue M Chinnaswamy Stadium, to enter the title clash. \u201cI think we can play really well and lose a game, and I can take a sense of satisfaction from that, but the opposite is also true. I think we could win a game and not play the way I think we should, and I'd be quite disappointed with that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSo my main aim is just playing the way that we set out, and by and large we've done that, so I find that very satisfying. The other thing that I'm really pleased about is we've adapted really well to the challenges. In any season, it\u2019s never just a straight line towards winning a trophy.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Mo Bobat, RCB\u2019s Director of Cricket, further spoke about how the side adapted to challenges in their way, including of not winning games initially at their home venue M Chinnaswamy Stadium, to enter the title clash. \u201cI think we can play really well and lose a game, and I can take a sense of satisfaction from that, but the opposite is also true. I think we could win a game and not play the way I think we should, and I'd be quite disappointed with that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> LIVE Cricket Score<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n