Royal Challengers Bangalore opener Tillakaratne Dilshan said on Monday that his team’s first aim was to gain two vital points and defend the table topper’s position in Tuesday’s match against Pune Warriors before they embark on winning away matches.
“Our aim is to win the match tomorrow and get those vital two points to finish at the top of the table before we embark on away matches. We are playing away from home for next 15 days and we need to adjust to conditions as soon as possible. That is the main task at our hands,” he told reporters at pre-match press conference here.
“We definitely know the conditions here much better than any other side and adjusted accordingly. If we play good cricket, we can beat any side in any condition,” Dilshan added.
Dilshan said on Monday that his team’s first aim was to gain two vital points and defend the table topper\’s position.
Dilshan, the inventor of ‘Dilscoop’, said he was not expecting changes in Tuesday’s match against Pune Warriors especially after Bangalore scripted a clinical victory over Rajasthan Royals.
“We have a left-handed Chris Gayle at the top and we now have one more left-hander Saurabh Tiwary. So, with two left-handers in the side, the team looks balanced and strong in the middle,” said the Sri Lankan.
Replying to a question, Dilshan, who has scored just 30 runs in three matches so far, expressed his disappointment with his batting with 25 runs as his highest this season.
“I am keen to get one big innings in coming matches. I had come into this IPL with good performances in Bangladesh,” he said.
Replying to another query, Dilshan said though Ashok Dinda and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been bowling well for Pune, Bangalore have enough firepower to negate their pace.
“Besides these two pacers, they have three spinners and they would have a tough time bowling on this pitch, which helps fast bowlers,” he said.
“We have seen Pune bowlers getting whacked by Kings XI Punjab yesterday. So, there is no reason why we cannot emulate them,” Dilshan said.
On his role as an opening partner with Gayle, Dilshan said, “I am not going to change my game. If the ball comes in my area, I am going to smash it. However, it depends on Gayle’s approach to the game. If Gayle is going after the bowling, I would like to give him more strike and vice-versa.”
Dilshan said he would love to bowl in any format of the game and expects to bowl in away games as the Bangalore wicket suits fast bowlers.
“As we are playing next six matches away, I may get to bowl. Most of the pitches there are slower and helps spinners,” he stated. Dilshan said Mayank Agarwal unfortunately is out of the tournament due to an injury.
——PTI