Kohli return to mark RCB strategy shift

Royal Challengers Bangalore are poised to receive a double shot of star power with the returns of Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle against Mumbai Indians tonight, and it's likely to trigger a shift in their tactics.

Kohli, who injured his shoulder in the Border-Gavaskar Test series a month ago, is fit again and will resume as captain for a Bangalore side that has managed just one win from three to open their IPL10 campaign in shaky fashion.

Gayle was left out of RCB's XI on Monday night in their defeat to Kings XI Punjab, with fellow international AB de Villiers blasting an unbeaten 89 in his return from a back injury.

But in a press conference on Thursday, Kohli made it quite clear that Gayle would again likely feature, this time alongside AB de Villiers and fellow overseas star Shane Watson.

The inclusion of such hitting power could spell trouble for Mumbai, with Gayle (5), Kohli (4) and de Villiers (3) the three leading century-makers in the history of the competition.

Gayle is just 25 runs short of becoming the first player to hit 10,000 T20 runs, though the left-hander's dwindling returns in recent IPL campaigns could perhaps indicate the 37-year-old's most destructive years are behind him. 

The likely return of Gayle means either Australian Billy Stanlake or Englishman Tymal Mills would be omitted.

Both Stanlake (0-41 from four overs) and Mills (1-22 from two) went for in excess of 10 an over against Punjab last time out.

"Chris has always been a priority for us in the past so many seasons," Kohli said.

"Last game was a scenario where AB came in, Watto came in and other two guys (Stanlake and Mills) were bowling well.

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"I think that is why Chris was left out in the last game, but yes what works for us in Bangalore, we would go with the strongest combination possible.

"Chris is the top contender for us to be playing the home games."

RCB have opted to bat first in their past two matches, winning one and losing one, but Kohli suggested that strategy will likely change with his return, and with good reason; the 28-year-old is regarded as the world's pre-eminent batsman when it comes to chasing down a target, averaging 84.90 batting second from 20 T20I innings. 

The India captain also said that the key to his side's charge to last year's final was maintaining strong form on the road – something he emphasised they must again do this season if they're to continue their success.

To date in 2017, Bangalore are zero from two on the road, though the absence of the talismanic Kohli has doubtless been a contributor to their slow start.  

"With me coming back and all specialist batsmen playing, the thinking might change back again (to chasing)," he said.

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"Bangalore has generally been a ground where you can chase down high totals and tomorrow being a day game obviously that really matters a lot because the wicket is better during the day time.

"We know we play good cricket at home but last year we won some really good matches away from home and that is why we reached the final, so in order to do that, that is the most important thing factor in IPL; we need to win away games. That is something that we will focus on through the season if we want to make it to the play-offs."

De Villiers, who has appeared just once in the tournament to date, was permitted to miss a training session in the build-up to tonight's clash in order to spend time with his family, with Kohli explaining he was very comfortable with the South African's decision.

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The world's No.1 ranked ODI batsman has been in terrific form in 2017, averaging in excess of 90 across all formats.

"With AB you never question anything because he understands his game better than anyone else," he added.

"We are not bothered with him (missing) a practice session.

"It was a conscious decision by him, which is to have a bit of time away from the game."