IPL 2018: Pune Wicket Was Not Easy to Bat on, Says Parthiv Patel

At 47 for one with Virat Kohli batting and AB de Villiers yet to come, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) were looking primed to post a good total against Chennai Super Kings. However, their plans of scoring big ended eventually by the high-flying Super Kings. But Parthiv Patel top-scored for his side with 53 as they post 127 for nine in 20 overs.

This was Bangalore’s sixth loss in nine games and has put their season on the edge.

On the very first ball after the powerplay, Ravindra Jadeja castled Kohli for eight. AB de Villiers, who had missed the last two games due to a viral fever, tried to rely on a sweep and reverse sweep to keep the spinner out of sight.

However, it did not pay off and was stumped for a four-ball one. The likes of Mandeep Singh and Colin de Grandhomme also failed to get going as the visitors were reeling at 87 for six after 14 overs.

At one point, it looked as if the visitors would not even cross the 100-run mark after they were reduced to 89 for eight. But Tim Southee played a handy knock of unbeaten 36 off 26 – to give the bowlers something to bowl at.

Speaking after the loss, Patel insisted that the wicket was tough to bat on. He was also quick to point out his team’s fighting spirit after they took the game deep.

“The wicket was not easy to bat on and we thought 150-160 would be a good score after playing for the first three-four overs,” Parthiv said after the game.

 

“We scored 127 and we did well to fight back into the game, taking this game to the 18th and 19th over,” Parthiv said.

“Every time we thought we could take a chance to score, but a wicket fell down. That is where a set batsmen has to come down to singles. He cannot take changes of hitting sixes. I think they bowled well in [good] areas. This format is such where wickets are falling and it is difficult for a new batsman to just hit, especially on such kind of wickets,” he added.

But unlike the Royal Challengers, the Super Kings batsmen looked at ease while batting. Cameos from Ambati Rayudu (25-ball 32), Suresh Raina (21-ball 25) and captain MS Dhoni’s 23-ball 31 took the two-time IPL champions home comfortably.

Patel further admitted that losing Kohli and de Villiers in quick succession made a difference.

But at the same time, he said that the team had enough quality to recover from the big setbacks.

“It does make a difference when two world-class batsmen get out in two overs,” Parthiv noted.

 

“Having said that we had the quality in our side, where we could have got to 150-160 on that wicket. But, yes, when Virat and AB gets out, it becomes difficult to score,” he said.

Patel had starred for Mumbai Indians last season, helping them to their third IPL title.

The southpaw had scored 395 runs to finish the season as Mumbai’s top-scorer.

However, he had to warm the bench for the first eight games before getting his first chance this season against the Super Kings. But despite playing his first game this season, Patel said he was confident of doing well.

“I was batting at the nets and taking a lot of throwdowns. So, I was confident. The support staff made sure that all the boys who are in the bench is completely ready,” he noted.

Parthiv Patel concluded by saying that the team can still turn things around.

“I have been a part of lot of IPLs and I have seen three four turnarounds in those ten years and I do not see any reason as to why we can’t turn it around. We have the players in the dressing room and the support staff, who makes sure that we are in the right frame of mind,” he said.

Also, Read: IPL 2018: 37th Match, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders – Match Prediction