Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will head into their home ground the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) with full strategy for their former players Chris Gayle, and KL Rahul on Friday (13 April), says Head Coach Daniel Vettori on Thursday (12 April).

It is known that Gayle is an explosive batsman and it is impossible to stop him from hitting on his day, but Vettori said they are ready to handle him, as they are aware of his strengths, as well as, hoping to tackle Rahul, as he is well aware of Bangalore’s conditions and now is in fantastic form.

As per reports in PTI, Vettori said of Gayle, “We probably won't anticipate playing against Chris tomorrow. But if he does, if any team knows how good he is that is RCB and what he has done for the team for a number of years. We are fully aware of his strengths and how we can handle him.”

On Rahul, the Kiwi said, “Hopefully, the team can also tackle KL Rahul who is in fantastic form and knows the conditions here pretty well. KL is obviously in fantastic form in the first game and he knows these conditions. He missed all last year for us, it was sad not to see him perform (play at all) but he has gone away to KXIP and started exceptionally well. Hopefully, we can tackle him well.”

Commenting on the spin duo Yuzuvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar, the RCB coach said, “Once again, it was the way we bowled to Narine we were disappointed with. Washington didn't bowl as well to him and Chahal as well.”

On being asked about Captain Virat Kohli’s batting position, the Coach said that the Management want  Brendon McCullum and Quinton De Kock at the top, while AB de Villiers in the middle to perfectly cut out for the task, and due to which the right-hander was given NO.3 slot.

Vettori signed off by saying, “The reason we wanted Brendon and Quinton at the top is because they are so dynamic in the Power Play and then AB can take over in the middle stages. At this stage, that is the plan but it can all change.”