Simon Katich said that the next eight days will make or break the side's run in the tournament as they will play four matches in quick succession.
Having released 10 players ahead of the auction, the team management focussed on strengthening the batting and pace bowling units.
The 33-year-old former India captain, who was last seen in action in England in June-July, is back after a one-month break that saw him skip two white-ball series in the West Indies and Zimbabwe.
RCB managed a below-par 158 for 4 on a difficult wicket but the hosts chased it down with one ball to spare.
Delhi Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan rued that his side failed to chase down a target of 158 against Royal Challengers Bangalore in their Indian Premier League match and said they would have done it eight out of 10 times.
"We started off really well with the bat. Powerplay was outstanding and then I got going, but me and AB (de Villiers) getting out to balls that you don't get out to. That's how the game goes some times. Delhi played better than us in the crunch moments," Kohli said after his side lost by 16 runs.
Anil Kumble was also keen to retain Ashwin, who captained the side in the previous two editions.
'It is a tough tournament, we have probably lost the rhythm probably but we are looking to our next match against RCB, we hope to win that and qualify for the playoffs'
Back-to-back losses denting their confidence, defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad would look to put their campaign back on track when they take on Kings XI Punjab in their IPL match, in Hyderabad, on Sunday.
KXIP are riding a roller-coaster ride, having to endure a controversy involving their captain Ravichandran Ashwin who 'Mankaded' Rajasthan Royals batsman Jos Buttler in their first match, an act which was legal but criticised by some as against the 'Spirit of Cricket'.
Jaydev Unadkat, who earned a recall to the Indian squad for the tour of Zimbabwe on Friday, expressed gratitude to Zaheer Khan, saying the former India pacer helped him improve as a cricketer during his stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the sixth edition of the Indian Premier League.
'Warner was a little animated because we weren't playing very good cricket and we lost'
Kolkata Knight Riders will have no margin for error when they take on hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad, who will fancy their chances despite coming off a defeat, in the Indian Premier League match in Hyderabad on Saturday.
A resurgent Delhi Daredevils squad will look to continue with their winning momentum when they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the team's fifth match of the Indian Premier League T20 cricket tournament at the Feroz Shah Kotla, in Delhi on Monday.
Kings XI Punjab have never won the IPL and Kumble has come on board to end the title drought.
Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Harshal Patel is not losing his sleep over not making it to the Indian team for the upcoming T20 World Cup, despite a consistent run in IPL 2021.
South African great AB de Villiers revealed that he sees a lot of himself in young Australian batsman Josh Philippe.
Royal Challengers Bangalore grabbed an impressive second spot in the IPL Play-offs with a six-wicket win over Delhi Daredevils as Virat Kohli continued with his superlative batting show by hitting a responsible 54-run knock, in Raipur on Sunday. The second position will provide RCB with two chances to qualify for the final.
'These are the heroes that are appreciated inside the dressing room for us at Delhi Capitals and Ricky Ponting is very particular about that. When you get appreciated, people want to stick to their roles.' 'Delhi Capitals' bench good enough to be another IPL team.'
Robin Uthappa smashed his way to a quickfire half-century as Kolkata Knight Riders notched up a comfortable six-wicket victory over Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League in Mohali, on Tuesday.
Aruneel Sadadekar/Rediff.com lists five matches you can't afford to miss out at the ICC's marquee event.
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis played a crucial role as Royal Challengers Bangalore registered their first victory in IPL-12, in Mohali, on Saturday. The Virat Kohli-led side beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets to end their run of six straight defeats.
West Indies must find a way to turn the undoubted talent in their ranks into consistent performances that will win Test series, former fast bowler Curtly Ambrose said on Thursday.
Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was scoring at a good pace and his runout was probably the turning point of their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, said Royal Challengers Bangalore Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson.
Mumbai Indians will fancy beating a floundering Kings XI Punjab when both sides face-off in a must-win match
Delhi Capitals senior off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lavished praise on Hetmyer, saying that the swash-buckling West Indian has done well for the team this year and his efforts are recognised in the dressing room.
On a roll after three consecutive wins, a resurgent Sunrisers Hyderabad will start as overwhelming favourites against struggling Rising Pune Supergiants in an Indian Premier League match, in Hyderabad, on Tuesday.
Images from the IPL match played between Mumbai Indians and RCB in Mumbai on Monday
A B de Villiers is likely to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore in the initial phase of the tenth edition of the Indian Premier League in case Virat Kohli fails to recover from his shoulder injury.
Rajneesh Gupta picks the overseas stars at Monday's IPL Players auction.
Virat Kohli termed the entire series as a memorable one with a lot of positives for the national cricket team going forward.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's form will remain in focus when the struggling Rising Pune Supergiant square off against defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League encounter, in Pune, on Saturday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad coach Tom Moody has expressed unhappiness at the way the target for Royal Challengers Bangalore was revised under Duckworth/Lewis method.
My batting position at the top-order will give right balance to the squad, says the skipper.
Captain Virat Kohli was a relieved man after Royal Challengers finally snapped a six-match losing streak in this IPL with a eight wicket win over Kings XI Punjab, in Mohali, on Saturday.
Virat Kohli applauded the leaders during an Instagram Live session with his Royal Challengers Bangalore team-mate AB de Villiers. The Indian skipper also said that the current situation is surreal, but added it will teach everyone to make a comeback.
'The biggest challenge is not to be too predictable.' 'If you can execute the yorker well, it can be a good ball at the death.'
'No one expected that we would do this well. We play every game as if it's a do or die situation. We go out as the underdogs in each game and that helps us. Ricky (Ponting) always says that (starting as underdogs) gets the best out of everyone'
Skipper David Warner produced a majestic 93 as he single-handedly led Sunrisers Hyderabad into the IPL final after securing a four-wicket win over Gujarat Lions in the Qualifier 2 at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi. Chasing a tricky 163, Sunrisers overhauled the target with four balls to spare as Warner anchored the chase with his responsible 58-ball knock, embellished with 11 four and three sixes.
Having improved its play-off chances following three consecutive wins, Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Muttiah Muralitharn said the team needs to keep the momentum going.
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