IPL 2018: Aim was to bowl dot balls, says Jaydev Unadkat

RR won the game via DL Method as Delhi failed to chase 71 off 6 overs.

RR registered their first win of the campaign. (IANS)

Delhi Daredevils succumbed to their second defeat of the season as they failed to chase down 71 in a rain stifled encounter against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. 

Chasing 71 for 6 to register a win, Delhi finished 10 short of the target as the Rajasthan bowlers made it difficult for them throughout their chase. 

Jaydev Unadkat who was bought with heavy bucks by Rajasthan claimed the important wicket of Rishabh Pant who was going great guns. The Rajasthan seamer who got hit for four fours and a six in his two overs, said that the conditions were tricky and the aim was to focus on dot balls

Regarding their strategy to defend the target, Unadkat said  “We found out around 11.45pm that it is going to be a six-over game. It was drizzling and coming back, so it was tricky. None of us were sure when it is going to start or if it was going to start or not. These kind of situations are tricky,” Unadkat told IPLT20.com. “Discussion in the dressing room is simple. We have to be ready for whatever game we are going to have. I think not just to switch off and keep ourselves ready and up for it, be it a five-over game. It was in our minds since rain was persisting. We were ready and up for it. That actually helps us to go out there on the field and do well.”

“The short game is always an advantage for the batting side because they have ten wickets in hand and just five or six overs to go out there and blast. They have all the freedom to go out there and hit those shots,” he added.  “For us bowlers it was crucial to take it a ball at a time. The same thing was going on in my mind as well – one ball at a time. If I get through one dot ball, it is going to mount up some more pressure on them.

“That was the thing going on in all our minds. Dot balls were crucial. The more wickets we take the more pressure will be built,” he went on. “The new batsman will find it difficult to hit straight away. That is the plan we had. Could have been better, but I am happy that we executed it.”

This was Rajasthan’s first match at home after serving a suspension of two years, and they recorded their seventh consecutive win at what has become their fortress.

“This win at home is much needed for us and all at Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan is coming back after two years and Jaipur has been a fortress for a while,” Unadkat said. “It was important for us to go and prove a point, not just for us but everyone who is backing Rajasthan Royals. It is all about momentum, and hopefully, this win will give us that much-needed momentum" concluded the RR pacer who justified his value by taking RR to a much-needed win after a sorry defeat against SRH in their campaign opener. 

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 12 Apr, 2018

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