Cornered Royal Challengers Bangalore desperately seek succour against Rajasthan Royals

BANGALORE: Royal Challengers Bangalore's challenge ahead of the second of three back-to back matches at home appears simple yet intimidating.
Lurking in the bottom half of the points table with just six points from eight matches, the Virat Kohli-led team will have to win their remaining six games to give themselves the best chance of shedding the tag of underachievers in this tournament.
Hammered by the all-conquering Kings XI Punjab at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Friday evening, RCB face the unenviable task of tackling a third-placed Rajasthan Royals team that will be looking to avenge last season's defeat in this same fixture.
Royals, sitting pretty with 10 points after eight matches, will also be keen to bounce back from a humiliating 32-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier in the week.
Royals will not have to look far if they are to target chinks in the RCB armour. For a team that has largely relied on the big-hitting of Chris Gayle, the steady strokeplay of Kohli and AB de Villiers' pyrotechnics on many occasions, it appears little has changed this time.
RCB will want to prove that they are more than a three-headed monster that has fallen asleep.
It's this display of character that RCB all-rounder Albie Morkel urged from his teammates after the 32-run loss to KXIP on Friday.
"On paper, we've got a side that can compete for a semifinal spot. We've bowled well, barring maybe the last two matches," he said, before getting to the root of RCB's problems.
"We have struggled as a batting unit. The batting group just needs to sit down and realize its importance to stay positive."
RCB cannot afford another slip-up against the Shane Watson-led Royals, lest they complicate the road ahead with another home match on Tuesday against Delhi Daredevils.