IPL: Royal Challengers Bangalore Need to do Better in Bowling, Says Donald
Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers need to perform better in order to progress to the play-offs of Indian Premier League, according to bowling coach Allan Donald
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: April 30, 2016 09:46 AM IST
Highlights
- RCB have only two wins so far in the 2016 IPL
- Allan Donald are their bowling coach
- RCB's batsmen have excelled so far, but not their bowlers
Admitting that Royal Challengers Bangalore have not been too good with the ball in Indian Premier League so far, the team's bowling coach Allan Donald hoped that they would get their act right in tomorrow's match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
"We batted really well in this competition so far, and there is no doubt we slipped up with the ball and that's something we are continuously working on at the moment. But as anyone would say coming into this tournament, momentum is such a massive thing and this is what we need right now. So the next three games for us is absolutely enormous in terms of finding that momentum, that rhythm and that confidence that we are looking for," Donald said.
He added, "As I said, we have really fired with the bat, Virat (Kohli) has been exemplary with that, he has led from the front but we made some crucial errors with the ball and that's something we got to put right, hopefully we put right in this game tomorrow."
'Chris Gayle is back'
Donald said Chris Gayle is back after visiting his family and that he is raring to go.
"Chris is here and he had a really good training session in Bangalore the other day and I think he is working really hard with our batting coach Trent Woodhill, he has spent at least an hour and half working on that. It's up to Virat and Dan to sort that one out. But he is here, he is confident and he is hungry," he said.
'Kohli says he is at his best'
Donald heaped praise on RCB captain Kohli and the seasoned AB de Villiers for their their batting ability and leadership.
"I am just glad I am the bowling coach who doesn't have to talk about them in bowlers' meetings. Two of the finest young cricketers, I suppose you don't call them young anymore, but two of best young players in the world that you wish to see in one dressing room. Wealth of experience, they bring humility to the dressing room and that's very valuable.
"I asked Virat the other day 'is this the best you have ever played' and he said 'comfortably yes'. I think as this tournament wears on and we haven't got much time left, once the top five click collectively, that is what we are searching for - those guys to come together and play well. From Chris Gayle to Shane Watson. It is a great privilege to be in the same dressing room as those two," he said.
'Mustafizur a great find'
Appreciating Hyderabad's latest sensation Mustafizur Rahman, Donald said it is a challenge for his team to overcome him.
"First of all, he is a great find. Bangladesh have been searching for that bowler who has an unpredictable factor. Having watched him throughout the World Cup, the slow ball that makes you think twice about trying to be cocky against him. And also he has got a fantastic yorker, mixes his pace very well and he is a smart operator for a young kid.
"I think we have had a good discussion in our batting group where we need to be with him. He is not that sort of guy, I think he deserves respect. It's nice to see a young guy, for me personally having been around a long time, on the circuit; a new face, a new talent that is making big, People think about that and respect him for that too.
"It's going to be handful, we know that but that's a great thing about challenge about winning this tournament is to overcome good bowlers like that," he said.