RAJKOT: Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Daniel Vettori heaped praise on Chris Gayle for his 38 ball 77, saying that the batsmen like swashbuckling West Indies opener do not need guidance from any coach or captain with regard to their batting.
Gayle smashed a blistering half-century before Yuzvendra Chahal returned with a three-wicket haul as Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Gujarat Lions by 21 runs here last night.
“Good thing about international cricketers is that they probably talk to themselves more than any captain or coach talking to them about their performances,” said Vettori at the post match press conference.
“They take pride in their performances, they really want to 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 kind of wickets and he can take any bowler down.”
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 with Chahal’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 IPL wicket 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 have to enjoy my bowling. Nowadays, I am bowling well and I just keep doing that. I actually allow the pressure to bowl like that. I know that the batsmen can hit me anytime, but I can also 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. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
