Mayank’s ability to control length was impressive – Du Plessis

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis has revealed that Mayank Yadav’s ability to control length was impressive on Tuesday night in their defeat to Lucknow Super Giants. Mayank managed to sizzle once again as he starred by picking three wickets at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“It is the new action you haven’t faced before, and especially if there is a bit of pace behind it that’s really promising,” du Plessis said after the loss. “It takes batters time to get used to someone’s action to see how the ball is coming out of the hand. So obviously pace is one thing but what impressed me tonight was his ability to control length and bowl with some really good discipline as well, so it’s the pace combined with accuracy.”

While ruing the dropped chances of Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran that cost them big time, du Plessis also urged the batters to step up. “You need partnerships, you need two guys to bat together and get a partnership and we never got that,” he admitted. “Disappointing that we didn’t do it with the bat so we got to make sure the strong characters in the dressing room really put their hand up.”

While RCB did pull things back in the middle with the ball after getting to grips with the surface that was slightly tacky, they allowed LSG to get a good start in the powerplay which eventually helped them. And when the visitors did come out to bowl, the plan was to try and make good use of the surface. “The chat was very simple – there’s a bit of help in the wicket, try and use the wicket, not to go for the yorkers really quickly,” KL Rahul said on his side’s strategy. “Here in Chinnaswamy, the pressure can come on you really quickly with one or two fours/sixes in an over, just changes everything. It’s important to stay calm and keep trusting that the wicket will help us.”

Rahul also heaped praise on LSG’s pace sensation Mayank for coming back strong after not featuring in the previous two editions. “He’s quietly patiently waited for two seasons in the dug-out, missed out last year because of injury unfortunately,” he observed. “But he’s been in Bombay with the physios working really hard. He understands that bowling 155 is not easy and in a very young age, he’s already had a few injuries. He’s really professional in looking after his body, it’s really good to see and has a great temperament. Enjoying seeing him bowl from probably 20 yards behind the stumps, that’s where I’d like to be when he’s bowling.”

Even though he became the first player to bag back-to-back player of the match awards in his first two IPL games, Mayank revealed at the post match presentation ceremony that the bigger goal was to play for the country. “This is just a start and my focus is on the main goal,” he said, “To bowl with pace a lot of things are required (in terms of fitness). Diet, sleep, training, you need everything to be perfect if you want to bowl fast. So my focus is on dieting and recovery, ice bath and all. That is helping me at this time.”