EXCLUSIVE
Follow UsFormer South Africa skipper Graeme Smith wants Royal Challengers Bangalore to unleash Wanindu Hasaranga against in-form Rajasthan Royals batters Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson. Having won both their encounters, Rajasthan are still unbeaten in this tournament. Buttler started the competition with a score of 35 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and then slammed a century against Mumbai Indians. Meanwhile, Samson has started the tournament with scores of 55 and 30. However, they will have to be careful against Hasaranga who took four wickets in RCB’s last encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders.
“I will get my best person to get him out early on. If he gets in, he has got an all-round game that we used to talk about AB de Villiers. He can take on seam and spin, which is extremely dangerous. And the power game, when he is in form, the confidence of most of the bowlers gets dented. I would want to get him out early and the best way to keep him quiet is when he is sitting in the sheds,” Smith, who was part of the Rajasthan squad that won the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League, told Cricket.com.
“I am sure Rajasthan would have spent a lot of time discussing about Wanindu Hasaranga and Kumar Sangakkara would surely have enough knowledge about him. He is the key man in that RCB side and he had a successful game against Kolkata Knight Riders. I will be thinking about how we play him as a combination. The top-five needs to figure out a game-plan against him and make sure you get on top of him.”
Smith also spoke about Virat Kohli’s low strike rate against legspin over the last two years. Kohli has got out to legspinners only twice in the last two seasons but has a strike rate of less than 115 against them. And, Smith feels that where former RCB spinner Yuzvendra Chahal could come in handy against Kohli. The legspinner has already claimed five wickets in two games and will be eager to prove a point against his former franchise.
“Contrary to his international career, Virat has struggled against legspinners in the IPL, I don’t know for whatever reason. Chahal would know that and he is looking in great form with the ball. And, he knows it’s going to be a big battle. I wouldn’t even be surprised if Samson and Sangakkara would have already told him that we will bring you on early when Kohli comes to the crease. Rajasthan have a good bowling attack, especially their spinners - R Ashwin and Chahal. And, I will be looking at Chahal as a weapon against this RCB team,” said Smith.
Smith said Rajasthan’s key players are doing well and that might give them a slight advantage over RCB. “I think both are excellent teams. Rajasthan Royals, if everyone is fit in that XI… They have started the tournament very well. Their bowlers are in form, batters in form, and there are lots of positives for them. If you look at the key players in their line-up, they have performed well.”
