IPL 2018 | We must know that we will not get 200 runs to defend every game, says Yuzvendra Chahal

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore started the 2018 season as one of the most balanced sides of the league after they bolstered their bowling department with the likes of Chris Woakes, Umesh Yadav, and Washington Sundar to support their impressive batting department. But the squad has failed to live up to the high expectations of the fans as they face a tough task of making it to the play-offs due to some inconsistent performances from the bowlers.

RCB wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal voiced his concern over the same as he revealed that it was impossible to expect the likes of Brendon McCullum, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Mandeep Singh to put up a score of more than 200+ runs in every match. 

“We reached the finals in 2016 because of the batsmen, as they put 200 runs in almost every game that season. But that can’t happen every time, and as a bowling unit, we must know that we will not get 200 runs to defend every game. On some occasions, we have to defend 160 too. The wicket in Bangalore is helpful for bowlers this year and if our batsmen get us 180 so that’s a huge plus point for us,” Chahal was quoted as saying by Wisden India.

A brilliant batting performance by Kohli and de Villiers, who both scored quickfire 70s, ensured that RCB would emerge victorious over strugglers Delhi Daredevils and keep their play-offs hopes alive. Chahal, who picked up 2 for 28 admitted that his bowling department needed to do better in the death overs of the game if they want to win more games.

“When we are playing for India, we have the best bowlers like Bhuvneshwar (Kumar) and Jasprit (Bumrah), who both are death specialists,” he said. “In the IPL, there are youngsters who are playing for the first time in front of the big crowds which puts them under pressure. I was the same as I have come through the IPL. They are learning. We are not getting it right at the death but we are trying to see what best we can do,” Chahal added.

Kohli & Co. will now face northern opposition in the form of R Ashwin’s Kings XI Punjab in another do-or-die encounter tomorrow. Chahal added that the team will head into the game with full confidence after a convincing win over DD.

“We are going there after a win, so the confidence will be high. Both batsmen and bowlers did well today. We will go there and assess the pitch. The ground there is small. They have the best batting line-up in the tournament so we will have to plan against them. We will go there and formulate our bowling plans against their batsmen,” said Chahal.