There is no better team for a spinner than RCB: Appanna

Confidence-wise, KP Appanna has never looked more composed than in this edition of the Indian Premier League.

With a tally of six wickets for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Bangalorean hasn’t quite set the stage on fire but the difference now is, he doesn’t panic even he if comes under the cosh.

“I am a different bowler now, definitely,” notes Appanna. “Injuries did hamper me a lot in the previous editions and I had to miss the entire last season due to a knee problem. I obviously lacked in confidence and I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I just went through motions; no plan, no thinking... It was very mechanical so to say,” he points out.

What is the difference this season? “Being injury free means half your problems are taken care of,” he reasons while adding: “When I get a wicket like the one against Pune Warriors (on Friday), I look to contain because the ball was skidding on to the batsman.

And if it’s a turning wicket, it will be to my strength, and I’ll go try and pick up wickets.”

Given a choice, the left-arm spinner says, he would never leave the Challengers. And why would he with a wealth of expertise to be benefitted from in the shape of former internationals Anil Kumble, Muttiah Muralitharan and Venkatesh Prasad?

“For a bowler, and especially a spinner, there is no better place than RCB,” he insists.

“The inputs I get from these greats are invaluable. Whatever they teach you or tell you is going to be of great help. I mean the first over (against Pune Warriors) didn’t go well for me, but then I came back stronger. I spoke to Anil bhai (Kumble) and Muralitharan, and that helped me a lot,” explains the Kodava, who was the joint man of the match for his four-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur about a fortnight ago.

Among them, Appanna treasures the scalp of his senior Karnataka mate and Royals’ skipper Rahul Dravid. “I think, for a spinner, Rahul is the most difficult batsman to bowl to. He is so technically correct, a slight mistake on your part can cost you boundary.”

Appanna knows a few more performances like that may just land him a place in the Indian squad for the short versions. “No matter how we perform in domestic cricket, it can’t be compared to IPL.

I would say IPL is a short-cut to international cricket because so many people watch these matches, so many world class batsmen are in action and the pressure a player goes through is tremendous. So, good performances here will be rewarded,” he observes.