This is a different group: Kumble

Bangalore Royal Challengers leg-spinner Anil Kumble feels that his side is bolstered with promising talent and have better match practice than last year which will make them a much more formidable unit at this year’s DLF Indian Premier League.

The Bangalore Royal Challengers finished second-to-last in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League last year.

However, this year the team seems like a much better outfit with Kevin Pietersen, Robin Uthappa and Ross Taylor boosting their batting line-up; talented all-rounders in Roelof van der Merwe and Jesse Ryder; and experienced bowlers from last year in Dale Steyn, Praveen Kumar and Anil Kumble.

The Bangalore franchise proved this by winning its opening match of the tournament against last years IPL winners, Rajasthan Royals, on Saturday.

They bowled out Rajasthan for 58 – the lowest score in the IPL – and thus claimed victory by 75 runs. Anil Kumble picked up sensational figures of 5-5 from 3.1 overs which made him the bowler with the best figures in this year’s edition of the IPL.

Kumble admits that this year Bangalore will put up a much better performance than last year at the IPL.

"Let me make it clear that this is a different group and we have set out to achieve something and I daresay the result of our opening match is ample evidence of my claim," Kumble wrote in his column in the Hindu.

"I would be the first to admit that a few things were missing last year. But this time our preparation hasn't just been intense but also spot on.”

Many teams have not yet acclimatized themselves to the conditions in South Africa; but Kumble says that his team has done their homework well.

“Spending nearly two weeks in Johannesburg and playing as many as five practice matches gave us a good feel of the local conditions."

Even though Kumble is coming out of retirement to participate in the IPL this year, India’s highest wicket-taker is glad to start off on a successful note picking up five wickets in his very first game.

"I am coming off a long break and may have retired but the moment I am back on the cricket field, ball in hand, the feeling is the same as always. And in any format, a five-wicket haul sure makes one feel one is in the thick of things."

Bangalore Royal Challengers will play their second game against Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth today.