RCB start as firm favourites against Kochi Tuskers

For the Kochi fans, it will be a momentous occasion as their only association with big time cricket has been the odd ODIs involving India. The Kerala Ranji Trophy team never delivered at the domestic level save producing a couple of Test players like S Sreesanth and Tinu Yohanan.

If the debutants under the stewardship of Mahela Jayawardene can upset the Daniel Vettori-led RCB at home, the interest and popularity of the team among the locals will skyrocket. Also it will be a shot in the arm for the owners as the franchise was mired in various controversies in the lead up to the event.

On paper, RCB top-order that boasts of names like AB de Villiers, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Virat Kohli and the very talented Saurabh Tiwary can murder any opposition on a given day. The quartet is one of the best among 10 teams and it will be a real test for Kochi bowlers to restrict this line-up for a modest score.

With Dilshan likely to open the batting, one can expect a lot of entertainment from the dashing Lankan. The fans may not have got their share of `Dilscoop` during the World up but in the shortest version, Dilshan can be expected to line himself up for that overhead shot.

De Villiers is another player who can rip apart in any bowling. Not to forget Kohli who is fresh from his World Cup triumph and would be itching to show one and all as to why Vijay Mallya`s team decided to retain him.

Not to forget Saurabh Tiwary who got more than a million dollar deal during the auctions. Tiwary whose towering sixes were a hit with the Mumbai Indian fans during the last edition would hope that gets into the groove for RCB straightaway.

When it comes to batting, Kochi may face a few problems as they don`t have a good Indian batsman in their line-up.