AB de Villiers is a modern-day marvel. Having quit international cricket long back and plying his trade only in select T20 franchise leagues, he still possesses the capability to walk into any side unchallenged.
The former South Africa captain’s well-timed 48 off 27 balls paved the way for Royal Challengers Bangalore to open their IPL 2021 campaign on a winning note in Chennai on Friday. Mumbai Indians, the defending champions, have now lost each of their last nine season openers.
If the IPL is about surprises and devising new strategies, it is also about unearthing new talent. Harshal Patel could be the latest to join the list of India’s abundance of riches when it comes to playing the shortest format.
His five for 27 not only restricted Mumbai Indians to 159/9, it showed that their batting fortress can be breached with a definite game plan.
RCB seemed well on track to reach the target when Virat Kohli (33 off 29) and Glenn Maxwell (39 off 28) were batting, but Jasprit Bumrah and Marco Jansen suddenly changed the course of the match with quick wickets.
It was left to the experienced De Villiers to help RCB tide over the crisis, but his run out with two balls remaining suddenly gave Mumbai Indians a chance. However, Harshal and Mohammed Siraj sneaked the two required runs to the relief of Kohli’s men.
While MI captain Rohit Sharma thinks it will take time for the players to get their intensity back, RCB can harbour hopes with their new additions this season. The two-wicket victory showed that Glenn Maxwell is capable of providing the momentum at No.4.
Devdutt Padikkal, who missed out on Friday because of Covid protocols, will be back in their next match and that should provide solidity at the top.
Mumbai Indians did struggle to force the pace in the initial stages. Rohit was forced to come down the wicket on a couple of occasions before Lynn (49 off 35 balls, 4x4, 3x6) replicated the captain’s tactics.
Lynn’s clean hitting did make up for his running out Rohit following a horrible mix up. His 70-run second wicket partnership with Suryakumar Yadav put their innings back on track.
But once Washington Sundar sent back Lynn in his first over, the innings fell apart with Harshal contributing to the slide.
Harshal heroics
In Harshal, RCB seem to have found a talented and dependable seamer who can bowl both in the Powerplay and death overs. The 30-year-old Gujarat pacer, who turns out for Haryana nowadays, displayed superb control and discipline during his four overs.
The all-rounder was traded to RCB by Delhi Capitals ahead of the mini-auction this year and seems to be a useful bet for Kohli’s team.
He had hardly made an impact in the last edition picking three wickets in five matches at an economy of 8.93. But his planning and execution was perfect on Friday. He got the ball to reverse and made it grip the surface as well. Pitching it in the right areas while bowling the 16th, 18th and 20th overs, he kept his cool and waited for the batsmen to commit harakiri.
RCB’s attack suddenly seemed to have depth and variety after the Mumbai top-order had plundered away 86 runs in the first 10 overs. Only 25 came off the last four and it is Mumbai Indians’ lowest since 2016.
