Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batters overcame some nervy moments after leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga spun his way to a four-wicket haul to register a three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a low-scoring IPL match on Wednesday (March 30).
KKR despite winning their IPL 2022 opener against defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) failed to carry their winning momentum coming into the second game.
Meanwhile, KKR skipper after his side's dismal show said the team needs to rectify errors and see to it that they the momentum as early as possible.
"The wicket was looking a bit dicey at the start, it was two-paced, variable and the bounce was odd. We wanted to get off to a really good start and that's what we planned. The execution part was tough. We are going to come back with the same mindset, we are not going to chicken out. That's what we want to focus on and that's what we spoke about coming into the tournament that we'll be someone who'd be taking risks. Next time when we come, we need to rectify the errors and see to it that we get the momentum as early as possible," Shreyas said after the match.
Wanindu Hasaranga lived up to his Rs 10.75 crore price tag as his four-wicket burst helped RCB dismiss KKR for 128.
The Sri Lankan was ably supported by the pace trio of Akash Deep (3/45), Harshal Patel (2/11) and Mohammed Siraj (1/25) after RCB won the toss and elected to bowl at DY Patil Stadium here.
In reply, Sherfane Rutherford (28), David Willey (18) and Shahbaz Ahmed (27) played crucial innings as RCB survived some anxious moments before overhauling the target, scoring 132 for 7 in 19.2 overs after Tim Southee (3/20) and Umesh Yadav (2/16) blew away their top-order.
Shreyas was also full of praise for Hasaranga who put up a spellbinding performance with the ball and was adjudged Player of the Match for the same.
"He (Wanindu Hasaranga) bowled really well, he got off to a good start after getting my wicket. I was able to read him pretty well at the start. We had decided that we'll play him as an off-spinner but unfortunately he bowled really good lines and lengths. He's also very experienced and he was getting some help on this wicket. Congratulations to him," he said.
KKR batters struggled with the extra bounce and went for shots too many despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
"I really found this game exciting. Before getting in, I spoke with my boys and told them that this game is going to define our character and attitude on the field no matter we defend or not. The way we fight it on the ground, that is really going to reflect our mentality in the next few games. I am really proud the way we played this game and took it till the last over. It was really tough at that moment because I wanted to get my best bowlers up there and get a few wickets early on but it didn't work out really well," Shreyas said.
"Kudos to their batsmen, they played really well out in the middle. They took out the toughest phase as soon as possible. In the end, I decided to go with Venky because he's also got really good experience bowling at international level and you need to back them especially at the start of the tournament. It's really important they gain confidence as early as as possible and this was one of the best games to get that," Shreyas signed off.
