There was never a doubt over Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) power-packed batting but it was the bowling which added to their worries at the start of the season. So when the bowlers restricted Delhi Daredevils to a below par 138/8 in their must-win last league match on Sunday, the job was half done.
The architect of RCB’s fine bowling performance was leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up three wickets to put the skids under Daredevils’ march. Chahal reveals how the bowling unit realised the urgency to put up its hand together to support the batsmen.
“The batsmen have done well since the start of the tournament but the bowling was a bit off. In the second half our bowling was good. Shane Watson and Chris Jordan bowled well in the death. We anyway were making 180 or 190 and the other teams were getting stuck at 160. The problem earlier was that we weren’t bowling that well in the death,” says Chahal.
“In the second half we realised that every game from here on is a knockout game so you put in more effort. Not much went our way with the ball early on. Once our bowling clicked we got the momentum.”
It also did not help matters that RCB lost Mitchell Starc to injury in the middle of the tournament. “Self-belief is very important. (Allan) Donald and (Daniel) Vettori helped us in the nets. And we just took whatever worked in the nets to the matches. In our nets we really worked on our bowling and our efforts are paying off now.”
Asked about his bowling, Chahal says it is the execution that matters in the T20 format. “Mostly when I bowl I try and get them to hit in front. I plan to get them to play through the covers because on a big ground when the ball is turning it can be hard. I use the same plan in Bangalore as well.”
“When I bowl towards the end, I keep three fielders for the cut and I try to ensure the batsmen don’t step out of their crease because I bowl it a bit wide from time to time.”
During the chase even though RCB lost Chris Gayle and Ab de Villiers early the team never felt the pressure.
“Until Virat was there we were confident that we would make it. That partnership between Virat and Rahul made it 70-30 (in our favour).”
DH News Service
