‘With the kind of team we have, if we can get those two wins, I don't think there is any team that can stop us’
Four defeats in six games notwithstanding, Royals Challengers Bangalore batsman KL Rahul expressed confidence of his team bouncing back in the ongoing Indian Premier League, saying that it just needed to sort out a few grey areas in its bowling attack.
IPL PHOTOS: Warner powers Hyderabad to victory against RCB
Royals Challengers Bangalore's weak bowling attack is expected to be boosted by pacer Chris Jordan, who was part of the England side that made into the finals of recent World Twenty20, joining the squad.
"It is just about one or two wins for us to get us going. With the kind of team we have, if we can get those two wins, I don't think there is any team that can stop us. With the kind of batting line up we have, we just have to sort out the bowling a little bit," said Rahul after Royals Challengers Bangalore lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 15 runs.
"With Chris Jordan coming in from the next game, it will be a big inclusion to our bowling line up. Our team is looking good. We just need to learn from the six games and see how we can pick ourselves up. I think we are peaking very well. I am very positive that our team is going to bounce back," he added.
Royals Challengers Bangalore will be taking on Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru, on Monday, followed by Rising Pune Supergiants on May 7 and Rahul said the team is aiming to bounce back with victories in the next two home games.
"We, obviously, as a team sit in the meetings and discuss what to do. Once you are in the middle, with the pressure, sometimes you cannot execute your plans too well. That happens to all the teams and we have had rough six games.
"We now have couple of games at home. So, if we can get those two victories at home, we are on our way to the top," he said.
Rahul feels it is not easy to bowl at the death overs.
"The only way to stop runs in T20 is to get wickets and if you see the last five-six games, we haven't got wickets early on and put pressure. I think that's the only reason. It's big pressure to bowl in the death overs and you cannot blame the bowlers," he said.
Rahul said giving away too many runs towards the end cost Royals Challengers Bangalore the match against Hyderabad on Saturday night.
"I think, towards the end, we gave away too many runs. I think we started off pretty well whatever we planned to do and took early wickets. That worked out very well for us, but as the game went on, I think we gave away too many runs towards the end. It's very hard to bowl to David Warner (50-ball 92) when he is settled and seeing the ball so well.
"He is getting lot of runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad. So, we knew if we can get him early, it couldn't do serious damage. Towards the end, I think, that's something we need to work on, the death bowling and conceding 15-20 runs extra towards the end. I think that cost us the game," he explained.
Swashbuckling opener Chris Gayle could not be a part of the playing XI on Saturday as there is cap on overseas players and the existing batsmen have been doing well.
"Unfortunately, the rules of IPL are such that you can only play four overseas players and we have seen in the past five games that our bowling hasn't been firing. We have been batting well as a unit. We got 180 plus in all our games. So, we were trying something new in this game. Unfortunately, it did not work out too well for us. Chris (Gayle) is an impact player for our team and I am sure he will be back soon and winning games for us," said Rahul.
Asked about the non-inclusion of Sarfaraz khan in the XI on Saturday, Rahul said, "I am just a player. I am not in the team management. I don't sit in the meetings when the team is being selected. Obviously, we were trying to see what combination is best for the team and what works for us. That's the only reason why we did a couple of changes."
