Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Chris Lynn has said Royal Challengers Bangalore are the side to beat in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The batting heavy side comprising of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Shane Watson and KL Rahul was one of the most dangerous sides last season, scoring freely and finishing runners-up.
“It’s difficult to go past RCB with their strength in batting. The quality of players and the coaching staff, make them the side to beat,” the Australian said on the sidelines of the launch of KKR Gallery at Fanatic Sports Museum at Ecospace in New Town.
Speaking of his team’s plans, the Australian said:“Our plan will be to bowl as many dot balls as possible. It will be challenging but if we can reduce the number of boundaries conceded then that will go a long way in winning the game,”
Lynn further said that Kohli’s absence for the first few games will not affect RCB before giving an update on the availability of Umesh Yadav. Kohli is recovering from a shoulder injury while Umesh has been advised by the BCCI to skip the initial phase of the tournament after bowling heavily in the just concluded home season.
On the absence of key Indian players like Kohli, he said: “There are 14 games in the season, they would be out only for a few games. That won’t have any impact as a whole.”
“We will also miss Umesh (Yadav) for a couple of games so he will walk straight back into the side. He’s a vital part of the team. It will be fine,” he added.
The Australia batsman, who scored the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League in 2014-15 with an 18-ball half-century, backed his fellow Indian all-rounder Yusuf Pathan to achieve a similar feat this year.
“Yusuf Pathan’s role is to hit the fastest fifty of the tournament. He’s going to come at number five or six and add power to the batting order by clearing the ropes, hitting as many sixes as possible. That’s what Pathan does the best,” Lynn said while speaking Yusuf Pathan’s role.
“We also have a good pace bowling attack with Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes and Umesh Yadav up front and then we have some quality spinners,” Lynn added.