Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders
RCB [Photo-Twitter'

South African bowling all-rounder Chris Morris played the first match of IPL 2020 on Sunday and put on a stellar show as Royal Challengers Bangalore convincingly beat Chennai Super Kings. The Bangalore-based franchise shelled INR 10 crores in the auction on him, which raised plenty of eyebrows. However, Chris Morris proved that he is every worth the penny and AB De Villiers has opened up on what makes his fellow countryman a special talent.

Chris Morris, who replaced Moeen Ali in the RCB line-up for the game against Chennai Super Kings, took three wickets as the new-ball bowler for them in four overs, giving away only 19 runs. The all-rounder also affected a run-out and took a catch as RCB routed the yellow army by 37 runs. The 33-year old, who has played for multiple franchises in IPL, could not play the first few games, owing to an injury.

Ab de Villiers | Lahore Qalandars |
AB de Villiers. Credit: Getty Images

AB De Villiers highlighted that Chris Morris is different from those fast bowlers, who are hardly able to do anything other than bowling. De Villiers stated that Morris is a proficient new-ball and death bowler, having the ability to club some lusty blows out of the ground in the slog overs, and exceptional in the field. The former South African captain touted the 33-year old as the one who could turn the game on its head.

He is a special talent. The history of cricket suggests the typical fast bowler usually bowls fast but can’t do much else—can’t bat, can’t field and can’t play other sports. Chris is different. A fast bowler who restricts batsmen at the start and end of the innings, a hard-hitting batsman who scores quickly in the middle-order and an excellent fielder, he’s the kind of player who has the ability, with ball and bat, to change the course of the game,” De Villiers stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“Chris Morris will add balance to our side” : AB De Villiers

Chris Morris
Chris Morris (Credits: Twitter)

The RCB middle-order batsman added that Chris Morris would bring balance to their side not only in terms of bowling at all the stages but also scoring quick runs when needed. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s next opponents are Kolkata Knight Riders, who they will face on Monday in Sharjah.

He has the ability to bring balance to our team for the remainder of the tournament—not only bowling in the power play and at the death but also scoring quick runs when required,” he added.

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