The Gujarat Lions had a memorable IPL debut as they easily defeated the Kings XI Punjab in Mohali to get their campaign off. After being hammered away by the Punjab openers in the first ten overs, the Lions roared back as their bowling was powered by the energetic Dwayne Bravo in the middle overs. Bravo was simply brilliant as he dismissed the dangerous duo of David Miller and Glenn Maxwell.
At the halfway mark, the momentum was with the Lions and that was evident in the way in which Aaron Finch started their innings. Finch plundered the helpless Kings XI bowlers as his knock of 74 off 47 lay the foundation for Gujarat’s win.
Post the game, Bravo spoke to the press and admitted that getting the campaign off to a winning start was extremely crucial. “It’s always important to get off to a good start,” Bravo said. “New team, new franchise, new players. Most of the players play against each other and getting together as a group it makes it a lot easier. It’s always important to win the first game and this will give us the momentum.”
Bravo also explained his thought process while dismissing Maxwell and Miller. “No doubt, they are two dangerous batsmen and any team would love to see the back of them early. Miller started very well, and we all know how dangerous Maxwell can be. Against Maxwell, I tried to upset him a little bit by bowling a few short balls and keep him on his back-foot a little bit and then I executed one of my better yorkers today,” Bravo added. “For Miller, it was a very good slower ball as well. They were two deliveries that worked in our favour and changed the game. I’m very happy that I’m able to contribute to our team’s success,” Bravo said.
Bravo summed up by saying that as a whole, it was a decent bowling wicket and he praised the bowling department for doing well. “The wicket was a very good wicket so the plan for me was to get wickets, to try and attack,” he said. “I bowled a few short balls, tried to push back the batsmen and then execute my variation. It was a great bowling effort from the team to finish off the innings,” Bravo said.