After Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore crushed Steve Smith’s Rajasthan Royals, in the first day-game of the ongoing IPL 2020, the team was seen in full zest at the dressing room. In RCB’s new Bold Diaries, Devdutt Padikkal has spoken about head coach Simon Katich’s inclination towards making RCB the best fielding side.
After RR looked strong, in the first innings, at the end of 2.3 overs with 27/0, the first blow fell on them as Steve Smith was bowled in by Sri Lankan pacer Isuru Udana. Following that, Jos Buttler’s wicket fell rather quickly as the 20-year-old Devdutt Padikkal bagged a brilliant catch at slip off Navdeep Saini’s bowling.
“The talk was about doing well in the field and we have been talking about a couple of catches from the previous game. We want to make sure that we are the best team in terms of fielding in this IPL. So that’s what we’re looking to do. Obviously it was very hot since it was a day game. We’ll get used to it and it will be better next time,” Padikkal attested.
Simon Katich, addressing a pumped up RCB dressing room after the 8-wicket win over Rajasthan, lauded the exceptional fielding performances on the first day game of the IPL 2020 which was played amid the scorching heat of Abu Dhabi.
“A couple of things with the fielding. I mean today, in the heat, sure t was tiring conditions but I think the way everyone went about it and the energy that was shown was first class. Two standout moments – the first one was obviously the catch to dismiss Buttler by Dev [Devdutt Padikkal]. The other one is the one to dismiss Samson, by Yuzvendra Chahal,” Katich sai, addressing the RCB team in the dressing room.
“Also, Finch’s catch of Riyan Parag, that was plus two to Finchy, at mid on I think. Then Udana took a good catch, so plus 4. I think our efforts were great in many aspects but the overall emergy put in by the team as a group in the testing conditions is testament to the character that we show and well done on that,” he added.
Katich pumped more high spirits into the RCB dressin room by pointing out the valiant character that defines the entire camp.
“Boys, fantastic game [vs RR] today. Asked for a ruthless performance and you delivered – magnifiicient, I mean, when you look back on that game, in the first 2.3 overs, Rajasthan were 27 for no loss, so we had every right to think that this is going to be a tough afternoon. And in the next 15 balls we got 3/6. So if that’s not testament to the character in the group and the execution of the balls in particular the quicks, that was simply magnificent,” Katich said.
As RCB won the game by 8 wickets and 5 balls remaining, Yuzvendra Chahal bagged the Man of the Match award for his 3/24. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli (72* off 53)and Devdutt Padikkal (45-ball 63) did wonders with the bat for RCB.