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IPL 2017: RCB coach Daniel Vettori praises Chris Gayle, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gayle Smashed A Blistering Half-century Before Yuzvendra Chahal Returned With A Three-wicket Haul As Royal ChallengersBangalore Defeated Gujarat Lions By 21 Runs At Rajkot On Tuesday Night.

PTI | Updated on: 19 Apr 2017, 01:21:24 PM
Royal Challengers Bangalore

Rajkot:

Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Daniel Vettori praised Chris Gayle for his 38 ball 77, claiming that the swashbuckling West Indian batsman doesn't need any advice or guidance regarding their batting.     

Gayle smashed a blistering half-century before Yuzvendra Chahal returned with a three-wicket haul as Royal ChallengersBangalore defeated Gujarat Lions by 21 runs at Rajkot on Tuesday night.     

"Good thing about international cricketers is that theyprobably talk to themselves more than any captain or coachtalking to them about their performances," said Vettori at thepost match press conference.     

"They take pride in their performances, they really wantto contribute to the team and Chris is a really prideful man,he wants to do well for RCB, do well for any team he plays for. Chris is the strongest and powerful player on these kindof wickets and he can take any bowler down."

ALSO READ: IPL 2017: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Gujarat Lions: Gayle power puts RCB back on track, GL suffer fourth consecutive defeat

The former New Zealand skipper said Gayle made the most of the opportunity he got because of AB de Villiers' injury. "Today was his opportunity. AB's injury allowed him to come out and play. We wanted him to play with freedom and we had given him the confidence," Vettori said.     

The 38-year-old coach also applauded leg-spinner Chahal's three for 31. "I have been lucky enough to have worked with Chahal for the past four years and also played against him when he was in Mumbai. The way he bowled in the Champions League final was the reason why we wanted to get him into RCB," said Vettori.     

"He is competitive coupled with a lot of skills. I think those two qualities make a formidable combination for a spin bowler and he is positive and confident of what he is doing.     

"If you can succeed in a stadium like Chinnaswamy then it means you are special and we saw that again today withChahal's performance," he added.     

Vettori expressed hope that injured players of RCB would attain fill fitness quickly. Meanwhile, Gujarat Lions' medium pacer Basil Thampi said getting Gayle out was the "best feeling of my life".     

"It was the best feeling of my life. It was my first wicket in the IPL. I got the big man's wicket and I'm very happy to get him out," said Thampi after taking his maiden IPLwicket in the form of Gayle.     

The tall pacer from Kerala revealed that he enjoys bowling in pressure situations. "It has given me enjoyment. The main thing is that I haveto enjoy my bowling. Nowadays, I am bowling well and I justkeep doing that. I actually allow the pressure to bowl like that. I know that the batsmen can hit me anytime, but I canalso build the pressure that time. I enjoy that pressure,"said the 23-year-old.     

Thampi said that his ability to bowl yorkers came from playing tennis ball cricket.    

"I got my yorkers from tennis ball cricket. When I came for the camp, I kept on practicing it in the nets with my coaches and they motivated me to keep doing that," he said.

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First Published : 19 Apr 2017, 01:06:00 PM

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