IPL 2016: Bowlers have played huge role in RCB's turnaround, says Yuzvendra Chahal

This edition of the Indian Premier League has seen plenty of new records being set, and the points table right now is as competitive as it can get. In an amazing turnaround of events, Royal Challengers Bangalore who were one of the bottom three placed teams until last week are now placed third on the table.

RCB fought all the odds and won three out of their last three games to make it to the third position on the table courtesy of their skipper Virat Kohli’s scintillating form. However, the bowlers have picked up momentum at the right time, and have played a huge role in the team’s victories in the last two games, also boosting their net run-rate to +0.930.

Talking at the post-match conference, after RCB won against Kings XI Punjab on 18 May by 82 runs, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal highlighted the important role the bowlers have played in getting the team to this position. The Bangalore-based team are now just one win away from making it to the playoffs.

“In last two games, the bowlers have done really good job because in earlier games bowling was the concern and we were facing combination problems too. Now, the combination is right and bowlers are bowling in right areas. We have improved our bowling and erased the tag of having a weak bowling lineup.”

Chris Jordan who came into the RCB camp earlier this month, as a replacement for the injured Mitchell Starc, was not at his best in the first two games. Although he has quickly stepped up his performance, picking up a total of five wickets in 6 games, including a four-wicket haul, his best bowling figure this season – 4/11 against the Gujarat Lions.

“When Jordan came into the team, the first two matches did not go well for him. The way he bowled in Mohali and in the last match against KKR it helped the team, especially when you have Watson and Jordon it helps.”

I am lucky I don’t have to bowl to the top batsmen in the world: Chahal

The leg-spinner breathed a sigh of relief that he does not have to bowl to currently the ‘top four batsmen’, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle and Shane Watson. Especially, the Virat-AB duo has been a nightmare for the bowlers this season, with Chris Gayle being the latest to join the party.

Also, AB and Virat set a new record this year, with their 229-run partnership for the second wicket in RCB’s crunch match against Gujarat Lions.

“Yeah (I don’t like to bowl at them). The top four batsmen — Watson, Gayle, Virat and AB — are in my team. So, I feel I am lucky,” he said.

Chahal also showered praise on captain Kohli’s impeccable performance this season and credited him for believing in the leg-spinner’s ability and giving him the freedom to bowl to his strengths. Virat is the leading run-scorer this season with 865 runs in 13 games, including four centuries.

“He is working on his fitness and spends lot of time in the gym, and also in nets. After the batting, he bats on the centre wicket to practise hitting sixes. He has worked hard and hence he has made over 400 runs this IPL.

“When he tosses the ball to me, he tells me not to give away sixes, but bowl freely. Against KXIP, I went after wickets because we had a big total on hands. He just told me to bowl the way I bowl,” Chahal concluded.

The Royal Challengers face the unpredictable Delhi Daredevils in a must-win game on 22 May at Raipur, knowing very well that a win will take them through to the playoffs.