RCB skipper Vettori says his team can win even if opener Chris Gayle fails
Royals Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Daniel Vettori doesn’t think their batting hugely depends on West Indian Chris Gayle who has been in superb touch in the last two matches. His scores of 87 and 84 saw his team through against Pune Warriors and Kings XI Punjab respectively.
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G-talk: Chris Gayle hits one during RCB’s match against Pune Warriors on April 17. PIC/AFP
According to Vettori, even if Gayle fails, they have the arsenal to pull it off from there. “Yes, I am happy the way Chris (Gayle) is batting. He is one of the best T20 players in the world. But we are not wholly dependent on him and other batsmen were also capable of winning matches. We beat Delhi in our first match without him,” said Vettori on the eve of their clash against Rajasthan Royals today.
On a high after registering back-to-back wins, Vettori sounded upbeat. “We have come here after beating two good teams like Pune Warriors and Kings XI Punjab and that gives us more confidence. We were beaten by the Royals in our own backyard and we have thought over it and will try and win this one,” he said.
Dilshan for Murali
Asked about replacing spin wizard Muttiah Murlitharan with Tillakaratane Dilshan, Vettori felt the hardest part of the cash-rich league was the ‘four-foreigner’ rule. “This is the hardest part of the IPL that we have to play only four overseas players and because of that, we have to leave someone like Murali out because we want to play three overseas batsmen. Dilshan has a chance to play in tomorrow’s match while Cheteshwar Pujara is injured,” said RCB captain.
RCB, who lost their home match against Royals by 59 runs, improved and are in the right frame of mind after snatching victories against Pune and Punjab in the last two outings. u00a0But their main concern is Virat Kohli’s poor form. The India star hasn’t done much in the tournament so far, barring his 54 against Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings.u00a0On the other hand, the hosts will rely on Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Menaria and captain Rahul Dravid when they face the heavyweights. Among the foreigners, Brad Hodge and Kevon Cooper’s form is also crucial.
Dravid’s wishlist
>> Rahane continues his form
>>u00a0u00a0He gets a good start
>>u00a0u00a0Ashok Menaria carries on
>>u00a0u00a0Early exit of Chris Gayle
>>u00a0u00a0Kohli’s bad patch continues
Vettori’s wishlist
>>u00a0u00a0Chris Gayle fires
>>u00a0u00a0Ajinkya Rahane flops
>>u00a0u00a0Jaipur track is a belter
>>u00a0u00a0Kohli is back in form
>>u00a0u00a0He is on song with the ball
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