Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers will have a tough time at Eden, says Yusuf Pathan
Kolkata Knight Riders' swashbuckling batsman Yusuf Pathan has said that it won't be easy for Royal Challengers Bangalore's fiery pair of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to settle down on the Eden Gardens track.
Kolkata Knight Riders swashbuckling batsman Yusuf Pathan has said that it won't be easy for Royal Challengers Bangalore's fiery pair of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to settle down on the Eden Gardens track when the two sides meet in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match today. (Full IPL Coverage | Points Table | Preview )
The RCB pair blasted their side to a massive 248 for 3 against the Gujarat Lions on Saturday. While Kohli scored a 55-ball 109, de Villiers remained not out on 129.
'ADVANTAGE KKR'
"You have to praise both of them. They got a hundred each. Virat has three hundreds now. But at the Eden it is a different wicket and an away match for them," Yusuf said.
"The conditions are also different, so they need to settle down once again which won't be easy. We have been playing here so we have the home advantage. We will be concentrating on the positives."
WINNING INTENT
The Vadodara cricketer smashed a 18-ball 37 against Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday at the Eden chasing 66 runs in nine overs. When he walked out to bat, KKR were in a spot of bother at 8 for 2.
"I was not thinking about much, when I came out to bat. I have been playing well this season so I was confident. Just wanted to play like how I have been playing and got the results," Yusuf said.
D/L METHOD NOT IN MINDTo Kolkata, Here We Go! pic.twitter.com/Itq5inzaZY Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) May 15, 2016
Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming lambasted the Duckworth-Lewis system as KKR were given an easy target to chase down after rain affected the tie. But Pathan chose to speak otherwise.
"Yes, it is a problem when matches get reduced that way but we are professional cricketers and we need to adjust to it," he said.
"Whoever has made the system must have thought about it before making such a thing. My job is to play cricket and play according to the conditions."
Asked about the misfiring RCB bowling unit, Yusuf said: "You never know when things can click, you can't predict. If you say they have strong batting that might also not click on certain days. It is not like that bowlers cant win you matches."
KKR NOT DEPENDENT ON NARINE
KKR's main spinning weapon Sunil Narine has been off-colour this edition but Yusuf believes other tweakers have made up for the Trinidadian's lack of form.
"Piyush (Chawla) is bowling well. The spinners performing well. We are not dependent on one bowler. Everybody is chipping in whenever they are getting opportunities," added the 33-year-old.