Nett run-rate considerations may occupy other teams' thoughts, but Royal Challengers Bangalore, for the moment, stares at a frighteningly simple equation: defeat to Somerset on Monday equals exit from the Champions League T20.

If the loss to Warriors in the opening game had been a narrow one, there were no mitigating factors in the beating received at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders. AB de Villiers's injury has left the middle-order looking patently frail, and it needed Daniel Vettori to haul the side out of a trough on Thursday.

The captain was scathing in his criticism of the fielding and bowling efforts in the aftermath, saying the team needed to improve “tremendously” in the two areas. “What happened today is irrelevant,” he said. “We need to win the next two games to give ourselves a chance.”

Dirk Nannes was expensive against KKR, as was S. Arvind, ironically on the day he was called up for National duty. Rajoo Bhatkal, replacing Abhimanyu Mithun, had an encouraging debut with the bat but went for 20 runs in his two overs. Virat Kohli and Chris Gayle were used (without much success) with Syed Mohammed, in the side as a specialist bowler, surprisingly not bowling his full quota.

As was the case against Warriors, Vettori battled on from one end, niggardly as ever, with only Arvind offering any hint of support at the other. Tillakaratne Dilshan had a few rough moments behind the stumps and K.B. Arun Karthik, the side's other option, could be considered. The latter, though not a wicket-keeper at the first class level, played in that position three times in the IPL earlier this year. Any improved result will have to be caused by the same set of players for the squad offers Vettori few others to pick from.

Well-rested Somerset

Somerset, in contrast, will have had little to ponder over the preceding week. The team has been out playing golf at the city's KGA course and visiting charities, and with Saturday's washout, will have had seven days between games.

Craig Kieswetter and Jos Buttler were in the team to face South Australia and will reinforce the batting group enormously.

Captain Peter Trego and former RCB player Roelof van der Merwe have been among the runs, and along with Kieswetter, make up a top three that will relish digging into an opponent that has been rather generous in the field.

Marcus Trescothick's absence, though no surprise, has not been felt yet.

Captain Alfonso Thomas, even at 34, remains a shrewd T20 bowler and in Murali Kartik, he has someone that can be trusted to tie one end down — a luxury not available to his counterpart.

Although a win on Monday may eventually suffice, Somerset will assure itself of a place in the semifinals with victory in both remaining games.

Three games in the last two days have been affected by rain, and the forecast for the week ahead is not too bright either.

A wet outfield on Sunday also precluded practice sessions. The English side will pray for clear skies for, barring a Chris Gayle-effected miracle, there is little hope for the host.