Nitish Rana, KKR’s man with golden arm, basks in glory
KEY WICKETS After removing De Villiers and Virat Kohli off successive balls, spinner says he hit the right areas KOLKATA:
The interaction ended with Nitish Rana saying he hoped to bowl four overs regularly and maybe take four wickets in a match of IPL11. Neither may happen but Rana’s part-time offbreaks just got added to the already intimidating spin arsenal of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Just as Sunil Narine landing a few roundhouse whacks with the bat, especially against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is something that has stood KKR well. “I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I saw Piyush (Chawla) and Sunil Narine bowling from that end (Club House End) and found that the ball was gripping. So I knew if I hit the right areas, I thought could get rewards. At that stage it was important to get them out,” said Rana his only over on Sunday.
When new skipper Dinesh Karthik gave Rana the ball, RCB looked ready for a take-off at 121/2 in 14 overs. Rana was smoted for a six but he then got AB De Villiers and Virat Kohli, the latter bowled by a delivery so full that it also had the IPL’s best batsman looking stumped.
“I do bowl at the domestic level in Delhi. Here too, I bowled in a practice game and did well. After his sensational last-ball six against Bangladesh to seal the Nidahas Trophy tri-series in Colombo, Dinesh Karthik humbly wriggled out of any comparison with MS Dhoni as a master finisher.
“When it comes to Dhoni, I’m studying in the university in which he is the topper,” the 32-year-old declared. It was much a lets-get-amove-on That’s when Dinesh told me to be ready. I was backing myself and got lucky,” said Rana, after KKR’s four-wicket win with seven balls to spare.
Rana then slipped into his role as a specialist batsman and along with Karthik took KKR to the verge of victory. “I can bat anywhere and am okay with the pressure of living up to expectation. Actually, a little pressure helps your batting,” said Rana.
I had nothing to lose and a lot to gain. I knew if I hit the right areas, I thought I could get rewards. At that stage it was important to get them. NITISH RANA, KKR player
I do bowl at league level in Delhi. Here too, I bowled in a practice game and did well. That’s when Dinesh told me to be ready.
RANA, on his bowling CHENNAI: CHENNAI:
He took the game away. Last year too, he had come up with some good ones against us. Narine’s innings did 50% of the job for KKR.
MANDEEP SINGH, RCB batsman
NARINE TOOK IT AWAY
RCB’s Mandeep Singh, whose 18-ball 37 helped reach what he thought was a good total of 176/7, said it was Narine’s innings that made the difference.
“He took the game away. Last year too, he had come up with some good ones against us. Narine’s innings did 50% of the job for KKR. In six-seven overs, he took the game away,” said Singh.
“He plays freely and that is why it is difficult to bowl to him. But after the match we were discussing that maybe we should have bowled fuller to Narine.”