JAIPUR: It is just three games into the tournament this season for Rajasthan Royals and their competence with the ball is clearly showing through. The winning results in the three outings highlights how the pack of six bowlers — Trent Boult, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Sharma and Avesh Khan — has made a difference to the Royals’ fortunes.
The Sanju Samson-led side has under its belt a 20-run win against Lucknow Super Giants and a 12-run victory in the game against Delhi Capitals, along with a six-wicket thrashing of Mumbai Indians.
Their next assignment is against
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
(RCB) in a home fixture at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday.
Faf Du Plessis’ boys are entering the match with three losses and a win to their name and the Royals’ quality bowling attack will look to feast on them. What should worry the visitors is the form of senior players apart from
Virat Kohli
, as none have so far set the stage on fire.
For Royals, if it’s quicks Boult and Nandre with the new ball who set up the platform in the Powerplay, spinners Chahal and Ashwin have a grip on the middle overs. While Burger has lived up to the expectations in his maiden IPL season, what the three veterans are doing is continuation of their good work over the years.
But what has stood out is the role seamers Sandeep and Avesh have played in the death overs. Like in their previous stints with other teams, they don’t get to bowl upfront. The Royals management has given them role clarity and are reaping benefits by the way Sandeep and Avesh have applied themselves in the final overs.
“Since the time Sandeep joined Royals, his role has changed and he has delivered in the capacity of a death (overs) bowler. Last season he bowled the final over against Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) and helped RR win the game (successfully defended 20 runs at Chepauk)," said leg-spinner Chahal.
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“And Avesh too has been really effective in the role he has been playing over the years for different franchises. Moreover, I would like to say that not just these two bowlers, all the six bowlers have contributed in the wins so far."
Chahal added that someone like Burger, who bowls at 150kph, is a big plus.
“A left-arm bowler at a good pace is always tough.”
English (US) ·