Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041054392000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Royal Challengers gearing up for the challenge

Vijay Bharadwaj and physio Muthu Kumar are supervising the camp

BANGALORE: A few players of the Bangalore Royal Challengers squad have started attending a preparatory camp as part of the build-up to their Indian Premier League inaugural clash against Kolkata Knight Riders here on April 18.

With a majority of the squad members like skipper Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Dale Steyn busy with the current Test series, the preparatory camp at the KSCA (B) ground primarily featured the Bangalore-based players like Sunil Joshi, J. Arun Kumar, B. Akhil, Vinay Kumar, Bharath Chipli, Devraj Patil and K.P. Appanna.

Former India cricketer and current Karnataka coach, Vijay Bharadwaj, along with physio Muthu Kumar, are supervising the camp.

Regular coach Venkatesh Prasad is currently busy as the bowling coach with the Indian team and Bharadwaj has stepped in as an interim replacement. “I will be in charge till Venky (Venkatesh Prasad) returns. We expect more players to join in the coming days,” said Bharadwaj.

Meanwhile, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has got a dash of red and yellow paint that reflect the key colours of the home side — Royal Challengers — in the IPL. — Principal Correspondent