22 April,2022 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Harit Joshi
Prasidh Krishna. Pic/PTI
Rajasthan Royals will look to win their third game on the trot at the Wankhede Stadium today and give themselves a chance to reclaim top position on the IPL points table. But their today's opponents Delhi Capitals showed on Wednesday that despite COVID-19 wrecking havoc to their schedule, they are still a strong force after their thumping nine-wicket win over Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium.
RR were saved from travelling to Pune after the BCCI decided to shift DC's match to Wankhede following six COVID-positive cases in the Delhi camp.
Despite DC's thumping win, RR pacer Prasidh Krishna feels they have the edge for knowing Wankhede conditions better.
"If I have to speak about our preparation, we also had a good game; we are also on a high. We have played two games at Wankhede, so we have a fair idea what the pitch and conditions will be like. It's just another game that we are looking at; nothing different," Krishna said at the pre-match virtual interaction on Thursday.
Krishna and his new-ball partner Trent Boult have a huge task to prevent DC openers Prithvi Shaw and David Warner from exploding. RR have so far the best economy rate (6.72) in the Powerplay.
"Boulty has been one of the best new-ball bowlers over a long period of time. It has been very nice ever since we first started talking about how we are going to bowl. He is always willing to help. We have been talking a lot to understand each other as a bowling unit. It has been working very well," said Krishna.
If Jos Buttler (375 runs) has played a big role in RR's success, Shimron Hetmyer (223) has gone hammer and tongs in the death overs. Similarly, if Boult has struck upfront (seven wickets) on a consistent basis, it is Yuzvendra Chahal who is spinning a web around the batsmen with 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.33.
Krishna, who has five wickets from six games, is keen to learn the tricks of the fast bowling trade from legend Lasith Malinga.
"The fact that he was appointed bowling coach excited me a lot. I keep asking him a lot of questions - what he would have done in a particular situation or what is the right thing to do [in situations].
"It is always good to have conversations with a fast bowler who has achieved so much and who is a legend of the game," said Krishna about working with RR's bowling coach.
Today's game will also see India spin partners Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, popularly known as KulCha, in rival teams. Chahal, who claimed a hat-trick in RR's last match, brought his team back in the contest from nowhere against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 18 while Kuldeep came up with a match-winning performance against Punjab Kings on Wednesday.
Indeed, they'll form (pun intended) an interesting rivalry today.
