IPL 2019: Kagiso Rabada emphasises importance of slower balls in Delhi Capitals’ win

Kagiso Rabada had set the tone by taking the wicket of AB de Villiers in his first spell during the clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Sunday. In the death overs, Rabada came back and took the big wicket of Virat Kohli for 41 and also chipped in with the wickets of Akshdeep Nath and Pawan Negi to finish with 4/21, his best figures in Twenty20 cricket. Rabada’s spell and Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant 67 helped Delhi Capitals win by four wickets and subject Virat Kohli’s side to their sixth consecutive loss in IPL 2019. Speaking in the post-match press conference, Rabada spoke about the method he employed in bowling in these conditions.

“In Twenty20s, lots of bowlers bowl cross-seam and it is something one does if there is no nip and swing. It is a tactic which most bowlers use. Ishant Sharma used it today in his first three overs and looked quite tough to play. The message got out to the other seamers to bowl more cross seam and that is why we used a lot,” Rabada said.

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The South African pacer said the wicket at the M Chinnaswamy stadium was not a typical Indian pitch and that using the slower ball was a good weapon. “This was a quick and bouncy wicket. Similar to Mumbai. It was stopping a bit and two-paced. It was not bad for the batters. Coming to India, not all the pitches are cliche Indian wickets. There is turn on offer on some pitches, one can use the slow balls and they can grip. When playing in India, it is dry conditions. In these conditions, the slower balls work,” Rabada said.

Delhi Capitals will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on April 12 while Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Kings XI Punjab at the IS Bindra stadium in Mohali on April 13. This loss is Virat Kohli’s seventh consecutive loss in the IPL, having lost the last match of the previous season in addition to the six they have lost in this edition of the tournament.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Royal Challengers Bangalore suffered their sixth straight loss in IPL 2019.
• Delhi Capitals won only for the second time in 16 encounters against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
• Kagiso Rabada's haul of 4/21 was his best in Twenty20 cricket.