How loyalties and allegiances change in the IPL. Anil Kumble's
association with Royal Challengers Bangalore was long and high-profile,
as a player, captain, and mentor. He is known to have played a critical
role in team strategy, selections, auction picks, all for a team
representing his hometown. He is in the opposing camp now, hired by
Mumbai Indians as their team mentor, and will have to plot against a
side he helped strengthen over five seasons on his home ground.
An immediate problem to address for Kumble's team is the absence of
Lasith Malinga from the opening game due to injury. A prized asset of
the Mumbai side, Malinga is still recovering from a sore back he
suffered during the home series against Bangladesh. His replacement
apart, Mumbai can compensate for that loss with runs from a power-packed
batting line-up, though it'll be interesting to see if Sachin Tendulkar
and his opening partner [there were as many as eight last season] are
able to retain their combination for a good part of the season.
The Royal Challengers are among the most passionately followed teams in
the IPL and, for a tournament centred on the concept of city loyalties,
Bangalore has lapped up its team like no other. But the title has proved
elusive, despite twice having made the final. Led by Virat Kohli this
season, Royal Challengers have as many as 15 seamers in their squad -
though one of them, Zaheer Khan, is ruled out of the opening match with a
side strain. It could be said that Kumble's inputs may have made their
job easier had he not switched over, but how they manage their personnel
is one of several potential challenges this season could throw up.
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