Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) mentor Dinesh Karthik put faith in his batters to ace the spin test that awaits them at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
“One of our strengths is the way we play spin. And as the tournament unfolds you see it happen. CSK have three very good spinners but we also have very competent batters who we trust. One of the reasons why we picked them is how well we play spin,” Karthik said ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) contest.
Karthik also played down concerns over his team’s talisman, Virat Kohli, struggling against the slower bowlers. Since 2023, Kohli averages over 54 but his strike rate has hovered around 120, drawing criticism in a league witnessing rocketing run rates.
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“He is coming off some serious runs in the Champions Trophy. He has batted well against spin in the recent past, especially in white-ball cricket. In the Champions Trophy, he had a good tournament and that does not come without playing spin because in Dubai, as you all know, how well it helped the spinner. So, I believe, right now, he is batting as well as he ever has,” Karthik said.
The 36-year-old Kohli showed signs of some back discomfort during the season opener against Kolkata Knight Riders but Karthik assured he was fit to feature on Friday. He also hinted that Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was ruled out against KKR due to an injury, could play his first game for RCB.
“As far as I know, there are no fitness concerns. Yes, Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar) did not play the last game but he bowled and felt good yesterday. So, we will wait on that. Kohli’s back issue is a bit of a chronic one but the beauty about him is that he knows how to play with it. It has not been hampering him in any way,” he said.
Coach Fleming all praise for Ravindra
CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said Rachin Ravindra’s ability to play to the situation made him a vital cog in his side.
“I think his development over the last 12 months has been really good. His last game against RCB was one of his best innings, and since then he’s contributed a lot of runs for New Zealand in a classy way,” Fleming said.
Rachin, preferred in the starting lineup over compatriot Devon Conway, struck an unbeaten 65 off 45 deliveries to take CSK past the line against Mumbai Indians earlier this week.
Chennai Super Kings’ Rachin Ravindra plays a shot against Mumbai Indians.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Chennai Super Kings’ Rachin Ravindra plays a shot against Mumbai Indians.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
“I thought his effort the other night was superb, in terms of controlling the tempo of the game; he’s got power and he’s got street smarts which is a nice combination,” he added.
Fleming expected another spinner-friendly strip for Friday’s encounter but added that his team possesses an arsenal that could thrive irrespective of the nature of the surface.
“Each pitch has a different characteristic, so we work very hard from ball one to try and work out what will work and to get a team that is well equipped for all conditions. There’s been a range of conditions that we have found and so we’ve picked a versatile team. If it’s a flat wicket, we have guys who are good at bowling in those conditions. If it turns, great. Sure, we won’t get green (seaming) wickets so the other two are what we look for,” Fleming said.