IPL 2019 | Dale Steyn has brought pedigree power to our powerplay bowling, says AB de Villiers

Royal Challengers Bangalore have been depleted by their lack of understanding of the game situation and their bowlers leaked way too many runs in the powerplay to concede the advantage from the very beginning. That took the sheen away from Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers’ batting as the team is now staring at the brink of early elimination.

However, Dale Styen’s late inclusion has added gaiety to the line-up as it was shown in the game against Chennai Super Kings on Saturday. And de Villiers was all praise for the player he has played alongside stating that he has added pedigree power to their powerplay bowling.

"Everybody at RCB is pulling together and fighting hard to stay in this tournament and we were satisfied when sent in to bat, we posted 161 against CSK. We then survived an epic late onslaught by MS Dhoni, and scrambled home by the smallest possible margin," AB de Villiers wrote in his column for The Times of India on Tuesday.

"Our bowlers deserve great credit, specifically Dale Steyn and Yuzvendra Chahal. Dale has brought pedigree power to our Powerplay, and his early dismissals of (Shane) Watson and (Suresh) Raina were hugely significant. He has brought X-factor to our attack, and our other seamers seem to feed off him, taking heart and confidence from his example."

Yuzvendra Chahal has been RCB’s knight in shining armour for the side despite all the mayhem caused around him, thanks to the wayward bowling by his teammates. Remaining calm and bowling with panache, the leg-spinner has been the team’s highest wicket-taker and despite operating at a batting-friendly venue like Chinnaswamy, he hasn't held back. The South African couldn’t get enough of him and said that he has an X-factor with him.

"Yuzi is a special cricketer. He represented India in the world youth chess championship, so it's no surprise that he brings meticulous plans and strategies to his leg-break bowling. His spell was magnificent on Sunday, as, giving the batsmen no flight at all, he conceded only 18 runs off 23 balls until MS launched his very last delivery over long-off," the former South Africa captain added.