Two crucial games away from home

An absorbing game against Delhi Daredevils resulted in an important win for us. The tournament is still due for some ups and downs and, given such a situation, our win against Delhi will hold us in good stead. We play the next two games away from home, the two most crucial games, and positive results will have a huge bearing in determining our fate in the tournament. We have put ourselves in a situation whereby we will be in the running till the very end and need to push ourselves hard at this juncture.

News about my injury is doing the rounds everywhere but I am in the process of getting myself ready. Who would like to miss out on a game at this make-or-break stage of the tournament!

The last time we played in Bengaluru against the Royal Challengers Bangalore was in 2008, when we won the opening game of the first IPL. We would like to repeat that feat. I am sure Brendon McCullum's destructive innings in that match will have a bearing on Bangalore's mindset, at the same time providing the batsman the necessary impetus to fire.

Bangalore will be taking guard after a defeat in their last match and should be a bit circumspect. We need to provide consistency now and one more good show will send a strong message to our opponents in the next few games.

Our starts with the bat are providing momentum and Chris Gayle and I look to continue in the same fashion. This will also be the opportune moment for Brendon to come good. If the lower order provides us that extra push, we should put it across any team.

Our bowlers performed in the last match against Delhi and young Ashok Dinda was the pick of all of them. It was very difficult to leave out Shane Bond but that was the need of the hour. In the absence of three senior guys like Bond, Ishant and Murali Kartik, the young brigade of Dinda, Iqbal Abdulla and Ajantha Mendis held their nerve and pulled it off. Delhi's batting strength is enviable and we could only relax a bit after Viru [Sehwag] made his exit.

The wicket at the Chinnaswamy is always known to play true and is generally a good track to bat on. I watched the match between Bangalore and Deccan, where both the bowlers and batsmen took something from it. The square shouldn't be too different for our game.