'Every game has to be treated like a semi-final' - Jordan

Before the tournament, Royal Challengers Bangalore lost Mitchell Starc to an ankle injury. But they weren't panicking just yet, because they had acquired the services of Samuel Badree, the No. 1 ranked T20 bowler, at the auction. When Badree injured his shoulder during the World T20 final, Royal Challengers were worried. In their first three games of the season, Royal Challengers only eked out one win while conceding 182, 192 and 171. Subsequently, Badree was ruled out of the IPL, and Royal Challengers were in the middle of a full-blown bowling crisis. To add to their woes, the New Zealand quick Adam Milne was ruled out of tournament with a hamstring tear, having played only one game.

Chris Jordan, who was drafted as Starc's replacement, was an analyst for Sky Sports when Royal Challengers played their tournament opener, after Sussex chose to rest him due to an elbow injury that had flared up during the World T20. Less than a month later, Royal Challengers are banking on Jordan to soothe their bowling misery.

"It's been pretty overwhelming. Everyone has made me settle in very quickly and made me feel welcome off the field," Jordan said on the eve of his side's home game against Rising Pune Supergiants. "All I have to do is concentrate on the matches. Hopefully if I get a go tomorrow, I can show what I can do."

With his bus-driver celebrations, chinaman bowler Tabraiz Shamsi offered a bit of joy to Royal Challengers, but has lacked penetration. Shamsi wasn't part of Royal Challengers' one-hour pre-match practice session on Friday, but Jordan was involved throughout and bowled in the nets without any visible discomfort.

After completing a five-minute press conference, Jordan was the second man out, after Shane Watson, for a hit in the nets. Wearing green and pink gloves and boots, Jordan blocked his first few throwdowns before launching into wild heaves. As Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli strode towards the nets, Jordan switched to his bowling shoes.

Jordan's wide yorkers, which he executed to inch-perfection in the World T20, earned him the reputation of an end-overs specialist. Yet he did not bowl a yorker in the nets. Instead, he resorted to slower balls and cutters, delivered with an audible grunt.

Just as Jordan was readying himself for running exercises, torrential rain scuppered the rest of Royal Challengers' practice session. "We actually haven't been able to have a practice session since I landed. Obviously a little bit of rain and stuff. The boys in the camp are quite positive at the moment," Jordan said. "We have put everything that's gone before this behind us and we are really looking forward to the challenge ahead, which we are trying to embrace. If we do come out winning, obviously it will be a great turnaround. Guys will be going into playoffs in great form, and who knows after that going into back end of the tournament."

Royal Challengers have conceded 170-plus scores in all their games so far, and are second from bottom in the points table with two wins in seven games. "I have watched quite a few games," Jordan said. "The way things are going right now for the team, that's life. Every game has to be treated like a semi-final now and if we treat it like that, all the boys will give 150 percent. We can be tempted to look too far ahead, but first and foremost, we'll have to deal with the game tomorrow."

With the ground soaking wet on the eve of the match and a forecast for thunderstorms on Saturday, will Jordan and Royal Challengers have the opportunity to turn the season around?