Pace bowler Yash Dayal attributed the renaissance of Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the second half of the IPL to them “switching on the attacking mode.” (As It Happened|Full Coverage)
After six consecutive defeats, Royal Challengers won five 𝓡matches on the bounce to remain in contention for a playoff berth.
In the last game, RCB defeated Delhi Capitals by 47 runs here on Sunday to leap to fifth spoไt on the t🤪able with 12 points from 13 matches.
"Our performances have markedly improved in the last few matches. I think we have switched on that attacking mode in the last few matches. It has been a big positive for us," said Dayal, who took three for 20 agains♒t DC, during the post-match pre🌊ss meet.
The ꧙left-arm quick sa📖id even while RCB were going through a losing streak, the dressing room remained a thickly-knit unit.
“When you lose matc꧋hes continuously, like it happened with us, morale will come down a bit. But we took🤡 it in our stride and bounced back well.
“But even when we were losing, fingers were not pꩵointed at anyone. We have remained positive throughout the season,” he added.
The resurgence of RCB is directly linked with the improved performance of their bowling unit, which was all over the place in the f🌸irst half of th🌼e season.
Dayal credited team bowling coach Adam Gri𓆏ff✤ith for that turnaround.
“The credit goes to our bowling coach. He engages us in specific dril♛ls, visualising particular opposition batsmen and we discuss this a lot.
“When I go out ꦚto bowl, I just think about how to get the batter out or save some runs. All of us think the same way,” he added.
“Gave too many runs”
James Hopes, the DC bowling coach, said dropped catches allowed RCB to add a few more runs and r📖each an over-par tot🌌al.
Rajat Patidar, who made a quick fifty, and Will Jacks, who scored a fluent 41, were dropped mult꧃iple time🍎s on Sunday.
“They got one too many and we dropped four catches and had we taken them weꦅ could have probably restr❀icted them to 160-165.
“But that’s fine and if you are not going to put it togethꦓer with the bat you are not going to win too many games in this tournament," said H🎃opes.
The Delhi side now has 12 points from 13 matches and it now needs a massive win over Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday to keep their playoff hopes alive.
The former Australian 𒅌all-rounder was confident o🍨f achieving it in their home ground.
“We have to win big now. But fortunately, we are going back to Delhi where big sco♔res have been ꧃the norm for the season.
“So, we are going to ask them to put a big score꧋ on the board and keep them a fair way below us to have any chance to advance in this tournament,” he said.
However, Hopes🧸 rued the missed opportunity aꦆgainst RCB.
“But today was our chance to really get into the mix forꦜ playing finals, and now we've left it up to fight, which you don't really want to do in this tournament.”
