Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar believes that his bowlers taking three key wickets during the Power Play was the turning point in their 50-run win against Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on Friday. Josh Hazlewood (3/21) got rid of CSK opener Rahul Tripathi and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Deepak Hooda. This left the home side struggling at 30 for 3 after six overs while chasing 197 runs. “It was game-changing because we took two or three wickets in the first six overs. It was great to see how they maintained the hard length since the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat,” Patidar said after the match.
He noted that the pitch was good for spinners, so he planned to use them early on, especially praising Livingstone for his impressive four-over spell. Patidar, who was named player of the match for his 51 runs off 32 balls, felt that their score would be tough for CSK to chase. “Looking at this match, we posted a solid total on this surface because the ball was stopping a bit, making it hard for batters to score. Playing in Chepauk is always special because of the amazing support from the fans.”
Reflecting on his innings, he said, “It was important because we were aiming for 200, which wouldn’t be easy to chase. I knew I had to make the most of every ball while I was out there.” Hazlewood mentioned that RCB has improved since their last match against Kolkata Knight Riders. “I feel good. As a team, we were outstanding tonight, better than in our last game against KKR. We adapted well to the conditions and performed well as both pace and spin bowlers.”
He added that the pitch showed some variation, making it easier to face fuller balls. “The energy was great, and the fielding was excellent, saving runs and taking catches.” Hazlewood also highlighted the advantage of having a left-arm pacer like Yash Dayal in the mix. “Having a left-armer really lifts us as bowlers. When you’re injured, it can get you down, but if you make good use of that time, it helps. Having Yash Dayal is important because every team has a left-arm quick, and his changes of pace were impressive today; he’s a top-class player.”