JOIN USA confident Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to carry on their winning momentum when they take on title holders Mumbai Indians, who would be low on confidence after the opening match thrashing, here on Saturday.
Star-studded RCB opened their IPL 7 campaign on a resounding note as they crushed Delhi Daredevils by eight wickets in Sharjah on Thursday.
Yuvraj Singh, who faced immense criticism after his disappointing knock in ICC World Twenty20 final, silenced his detractors with a brilliant unbeaten 52 and shared 84 runs in just 7.9 overs with captain Virat Kohli (49 not out) for the unconquered third wicket stand to help RCB chase down Daredevils’ 145-run target with 20 balls to spare. Kohli too sounded happy about the return to form of Yuvraj.
“Yuvraj got criticism recently, it’s unfaire. He has won us two World Cups (2007 T20 and 2011 50-over), he’s a proven match-winner and it’s important to back a player like him,” said Kohli.
RCB did not have the services of the explosive Chris Gayle, who was down with a back injury, against Delhi but it hardly made any impact on RCB’s chase. The decision of RCB, who had retained big boys Kohli, Gayle and AB de Villiers for the seventh edition, to shell out a whopping Rs 14 crore for Yuvraj bore fruit as the left-hander justified his price tag with the brilliant half-century.
RCB’s bowling was considered their weak link but against the Daredevils, their bowlers did just enough to restrict the opponents to a modest 145 for four.