Uthappa ready to stand in as keeper for RCB

Through the first season of DLF Indian Premier League, the only talk surrounding Royal Challengers Bangalore was how it was a Test team and how uni-dimensional the squad was. Captain Rahul Dravid was panned and the team strategies were scoffed at right through.

But this season, the Royal Challengers are promising a whole new outlook and a fresh approach to the DLF IPL II. And it showed on Friday a day before they were to play their first game of the tournament against Rajasthan Royals. The men who are heralding the change are the duo of coach Ray Jennings and skipper Kevin Pietersen.

The two have more than just a point to prove to the world. And their aggressive approach seems to be rubbing off on the side. “We are not the Test team that we were last season. There are a few dynamic players at the top and newer bowlers. As a group we have dimensions about us,” Pietersen said.

The effect KP – as the captain is known – and Jennings have had on the team was quite visible as the training session began at the Bellville Cricket Club. The training seemed to have some purpose, some direction and a lot of sweat.

From the young Virat Kohli to the veteran Anil Kumble, they were more than just keen to be part of the training session. Some players even joked that they hadn’t trained this hard even while with the national team.

The man responsible for all the hard work was obviously coach Jennings. He is known to be a hard taskmaster and the oldtimers from the last season in the Royal Challengers squad are clearly seeing the big difference in approach.

He has different ideas and an approach different from the others. He stationed himself on the main square watching all the batsmen go long and hard at the bowling on offer.

It was interesting to see the two battle-scarred veterans Kumble and Rahul Dravid mould themselves to the changing patterns of the game. For quite a few, this would have been an eye-opener seeing Dravid play quite a few ‘agricultural’ shots. The battle between Dravid and Kumble was engrossing. Kumble even tried bowling a few left-arm chinaman deliveries for which he changed action at the last minute. Dravid was quick to spot the change and the two champions had a hearty laugh.

All through, KP and new recruit from New Zealand Jesse Ryder were the cynosure as they tried newer shots. KP's switch-hit was something everybody waited for and was finally spotted. But the surprise of the day was obviously reserved for the last.

Robin Uthappa, who had just this season moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore, was getting ready for his new role both literally and figuratively speaking. He requested Kumble to bowl six deliveries to him and it seemed that it was one last session with the bat for Uthappa.

But no, it was Uthappa the wicket-keeper who was getting ready for his new role. With Mark Boucher yet to join the team, Jennings is obviously keeping all options open. Uthappa kept on the main square as Kumble bowled to Dravid for about 15 minutes. Uthappa used to be a ‘keeper in age-group cricket, but gave it up to concentrate on his batting.

Now, the demands of the shorter formats had ensured that he had to recalibrate himself. He then even did a few keeping drills, to get used to the new role. He was donning the gloves after five years and was clearly yet to warm to the idea.

Jennings has made one thing clear he would be requiring more than just one aspect of the play from his stars. So expect everyone to bowl or some like Uthappa to keep the wickets. Clearly Royal Challengers Bangalore are not to be lightly taken this time around.