Shot selection would be key to the success of batsmen in the second edition of the IPL in the South African conditions, feels Rahul Dravid, who scripted Royal Challenger Bangalore's stunning win over Rajasthan Royals in Cape Town.
Dravid, adjudged Man of the Match, played a gritty 66-run knock under pressure situation and led his team to a emphatic 75-run win.
"You got to play some good cricket shots under these conditions. You can not hit every ball here. Conditions were ideal for me and will help batsmen like me," Dravid said after the match.
Dravid insisted he had no point to prove when asked about his gesture when he raised his third IPL fifty.
"Not really. I am happy with the way I batted. I was in good touch," he said.
The winning captain Kevin Pietersen heaped praise on his teammates for the brilliant effort.
"It is terrific start. Rahul (Dravid) was outstanding. He was exceptional. It was a good team effort. Praveen is fantastic, he is clever and it was really tough to score when you are pinned up.
"And you can not buy (Anil) Kumble's experience from any shop. It was brilliant team effort, I am happy for the boys," Pietersen said.
Shane Warne was naturally a disappointed man.
"It is pretty disappointing. As champions we wanted to impose ourselves. We were exceptional in bowling and fielding but batsmen could not do well.
"We could have stopped them for 115-120 but even 130 we should have scored with two overs to spare.
"Shot selection was really bad. I think the top 3-4 batsmen could shown sensibility and played sensible shots. But I promise to come back strong," Warne, the former Australian leg-spinner, said.
