Delhi Capitals pacer Kagiso Rabada on Sunday (April 7) delivered one of his best spells in the Indian Premier League and returned with fantastic match-figures of 4/21 to help his team defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore.
RCB could only manage a first innings total of 149/8 in its alloted 20 overs with the bat, as Rabada got able support from Axar Patel (1/22) and Chris Morris (2/28) who bowled two very economical spells.
Delhi later chased down the 140-run target, with its captain Shreyas Iyer scoring 67 off 50 balls to ensure an easy four-wicket victory for his team. But for being the stand out performer of the day, South African fast bowler Rabada was deservingly adjudged "Player-of-the-Match".
"All I tried to do was to keep it simple," he said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "All you try and do is get the ball in a good area, whatever ball you're trying to bowl and the batsman is going to make the mistake really."
Giving a detailed account of his performance versus RCB, Rabada added, "In T20 cricket, all the team's bowl cross-seam deliveries, that's no secret. Ishant used it in his first three overs and was quite tough to play. Then the message got out to the other seamers to basically use the cross-seam."
After having lost its last two matches, Delhi Capitals got the much-needed victory and that too in a dominating fashion, to leave Rabada hopeful that his team will now continue playing with both bat and ball like this and keep winning.
"It has been a weird tournament for us as a team," he said. "It worked for me today and am glad. On a daily basis, you try to execute your simple skills. It is important to back yourself and I do it."
"I don't see myself as a leader. If people are looking for some advice, am always there. I have a responsibility at the top of the innings and at the death."
Delhi Capitals skipper Shreyas Iyer also lavished rich praise over his bowling unit. He especially acknowledged Rabada's magnificent effort.
"I think they were 10-15 runs less on this track. Our bowlers bowled really well. Especially Rabada in his last two overs," he said. "Obviously, we need to think about the areas we need to work on."
"It's a big satisfaction when you win games. You get to see the smiling faces. I am doing alright as a skipper and want to maintain it."
