BENGALURU: With the IPL returning to the home-and away format after three-seasons, the excitement and craze among home fans is at its peak.
Courtesy the assembly elections in Karnataka in May, Royal Challengers Bangalore are playing six of their seven home games in April and that has only added to the frenzy.
The schedule could be a double-edged sword, but the team's head coach Sanjay Bangar believes it works in the team's favour in more than one way.
"One of the things that has always bothered home teams, especially in May, is the threat of rain. Our schedule sort of takes away the factor that you may not get a complete game or it could get washed out. We are certain that the games (in April) will be completed. So, it takes the weather out of the equation. Also, getting to play regularly during a span of three-and-a-half weeks at the same venue, will help the batters find the right rhythm and the bowlers settle on a plan that works," said Bangar.
The M Chinnaswamy stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Mumbai Indians, but Mark Boucher, the head coach of the away team, is looking beyond history.
"Mumbai a good record here but that is all in the past. There are new characters within the teams. You can take that (record) from a confidence perspective and try and infiltrate it into the players, but the bottom line is: you don't win a game of cricket on a piece of paper or in the past," pointed out the South African.
ROHIT FIT
Boucher also put to rest speculations about Rohit Sharma's availability, after the MI skipper missed the all-captains' meet on Thursday. "Rohit is fit. He was feeling a little unwell on that day and as a precautionary measure, we asked him to stay home. He has trained over the last two days and is 100% fit to play," added Boucher.
