Lions face Royal test Gayle could return to Big Bash

Rajkot - Gujarat would expect a solid platform from Finch and McCullum against Bangalore

Their three-match unbeaten march halted in the previous game, Gujarat Lions would be looking to get back to winning ways when they lock horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are without the services of their hard-hitting batsman Chris Gayle, in the IPL encounter here on Sunday.
Suresh Raina-led Gujarat Lions, one of the two debutant teams in IPL this season, started their maiden campaign with impressive performance in first three games, winning against Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians.
However, the Lions suffered a humiliating 10-wicket loss at home against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last match.
Come Sunday, they would like to bring their campaign back on track by capitalising on RCB's weak bowling and the absence of destructive opener Gayle, who has gone back to the West Indies to be with his partner Natasha Berridge and new-born son.
The Lions batting would revolve around openers Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum, followed by the likes of Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Dinesh Karthik.
McCullum is yet to show his full potential, even as Finch had struck three back-to-back half centuries in first three games, failing only against Sunrisers Hyderabad when he could not open his account.
The Lions opening pair had clicked just once in four matches so far, which was against Rising Pune Supergiants, where they notched up 85 runs for the first wicket in less than nine overs.
On Sunday, the Lions would want Finch and McCullum to give them a solid platform against a formidable RCB batting line-up.
Raina looked in good touch in the last game with a 51-ball 75, although it came in a losing cause, and he would like to continue like that.
The two all-rounders in Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja are also expected to come in handy.
As far as their bowling is concerned, SCA stadium wicket doesn't favour seamers but still the Lions may opt for James Faulkner or Dwayne Smith in place of pacer Dale Steyn.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli-led RCB have had mixed fortunes so far in the tournament, winning two and losing two.
But they would take the heart from their victory over Rising Pune Supergiants at Pune last night.

sydney - Big-hitting batsman Chris Gayle could return to Australia's T20 league, with Cricket Australia saying the West Indian had not been blacklisted over a sexism scandal, reports said on Saturday.
Gayle made headlines in January when he attempted to flirt with television reporter Mel McLaughlin during a live interview.
On air, Gayle said he was happy to be speaking to McLaughlin "just to see your eyes for the first time" and suggested they go for a drink afterwards.
"Don't blush baby," the Jamaican told her in an exchange which led to him being fined by his Australian club Melbourne Renegades.
At the time, Cricket Australia's James Sutherland said such comments were inappropriate in the workplace, adding that Gayle was not in a "night club".
But Sutherland told News Corp this week that it wasn't Cricket Australia's place to rule players out, and individual clubs in the domestic Big Bash League were free to choose their line-ups.
"No matter what anyone at Cricket Australia thought (of the incident) at management level, board level, I think you're on a slippery slope if you start making judgements on players who could or shouldn't be playing in the Big Bash League or in our domestic competitions," Sutherland said in comments published Saturday.
"Because, when does that ever end? My view is unless there's a very, very strong reason along the lines of anti-corruption, then it's difficult for us to be making those judgements."
Gayle, 36, reportedly wants to return to the Big Bash League in Australia later this year.
The left-hander raised eyebrows again this week when he announced on social media that his partner Natasha Berridge had given birth to a beautiful daughter called 'Blush'. - AFP