Every team has a chance to comeback in India leg of IPL: Yuvraj Singh

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 2 (PTI) Senior Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh today said though Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings are sitting at top of the table, the seventh edition of IPL is still wide open and there is chance for every team to stage a comeback.

"This is the time when teams leading would like to consolidate, teams like ours` would like to recover the lost ground and sides like Mumbai Indians would like to change their fortunes. As far as my experience says, everything is possible in this game," he said in an article on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) website.

The Punjab southpaw said the Bangalore outfit believe they can be return back to winning ways if they play to their potential and use home conditions to their advantage.

"We know this for a fact, that if we play to our full potential, we can be back to winning ways. Everyone in the group believes this very strongly and are aspiring to make things better. And that`s what we aim to do when we get back to Bangalore," he said.

"Before getting back to Bangalore, we have two days to recharge our batteries and channelise our energies. Hopefully, the familiar surroundings of our home ground can make this recovery a little easier," he added. Yuvraj, who has had a rough time the last couple of matches, said the team need to overcome from their last three defats in the UAE leg of the tournament.
"Losing three matches in a row is definitely a setback, which we need to overcome very quickly. We had one terrible game against Rajasthan Royals and the other two games we just didn`t play the crucial moments well," he said.

Yuvraj said RCB has plenty of positives, including the right set-up and right combination of talents. "Honestly speaking, we have plenty of them. We have the right set-up, right players, great support staff and a very sporting franchise," he said.

"In this format, you lose and win your battles in a very short span and unlike Test cricket or One-Day cricket, you don`t have many chances to make a comeback," the Punjab lad added.

"We started this year`s IPL on a right note with two consecutive wins. Though, by the end of the first leg of the IPL, we somehow couldn`t carry forward that initiative."

We wish to bounce back on home turf: Gayle

Bangalore, Apr 30 (PTI) After winning just two of the
five matches played in the UAE, Royal Challengers Bangalore
batsman Chris Gayle is hoping for a turnaround of his team's
fortunes in the Indian leg of IPL-7.
     Out of nine remaining matches, RCB will play five matches
at Chinnaswamy stadium and are hoping to fare better on home
turf.
     "Hopefully we wish to bounce back as quickly as possible.
We are back home now and know the conditions well here. Still
a long way to go," he told reporters at an event conducted by
WHAM Infocom here.
     However, Gayle said the team is disappointed with losing
last three games on the trot after having a great start by
winning first two matches.
     "We had a good start by winning first two games and
thereafter lost three. We were disappointed, but that is
cricket," he said.
     Asked whether there is any missing link for their dismal
show in the last three games, Gayle said "I don't think there
is any missing link ... Everybody is capable of winning."
     On the question of the team being under any pressure,
Gayle said there is always pressure in any of the matches they
play.
     On his fitness, Gayle said he is working with his physio
and hopes to be fully fit in next two days. "There is slight
discomfort. In next two days I will be fully fit. I am working
with the physio - make a comeback and take it from there for
RCB," he said.
     The destructive batsman also spoke about Sachin
Tendulkar's retirement, saying that it was his choice, but he
is still the best and greatest ever in the history of the
game.
     "It is his choice ... he is still the best and
remembered. One of the greatest ever in the game ... Still
good enough whether he is here or there," he said.
     On the association with WHAM Infocom, Gayle said he was
excited to be with the company and added it stands for high
quality products with latest technology.
     "Within a short span of time they have reached out to one
million users in India and I am proud to be associated with a
successful brand as WHAM," he said.
     WHAM Director L Subhash Chandra said, "We are thrilled to
unleash the famous 'Gayle Storm' on our WHAM! customers. We
couldn't find a better connect to our brand than Chris.
     "WHAM! is an all-rounder just like our brand ambassador
Chris Gayle, providing the ever evolving Indian customers with
the latest innovation, the finest features and the most
stylish products at an affordable price," he added.
     WHAM! Mobiles is one of the fastest growing Indian
handset manufacturers, Chandra said. 

IPL 7: AB de Villers calmed the procedure down, says Parthiv Patel

B D Narayankar writes

Sharjah, April 20 (PTI) Parthiv Patel, who won Man of the Match award for his half-century against Mumbai Indians, showered encomiums on AB de Villiers for calming the roughed up proceedings and guide Rajasthan Royals to a convincing seven-wicket victory.

“I think I couldn’t have asked for any better person to come in at that time (when RCB was struggling at 17 for three). You know AB expectedly is one of the best batsmen in the world. He calmed the procedure down,” Parthiv said in an interview to RCB’s official website.

Parthiv said De Villiers took his time to settle down and asked him to take his time.

“We were in a bit of trouble initially but AB came in and he handled the ship and I just had to take singles and after that I took over,” he said.

“I said (to AB) that we just need to bat 20 overs, and if we can do that we will win. We needn’t worry about the runs, just play 20 overs and that exactly what we did,” he said.

Parthiv said the bowlers set the game for RCB by restricting Mumbai Indians to 115 on a difficult wicket.

“The bowlers set the game for us on that wicket. Obviously it wasn’t easier, but our bowlers did a good job and restricted them to 115,” he said.

After winning the second game against Mumbai Indians, Parthiv said, “It was all in all good start for us in the tournament and hopefully we can continue this.”

Asked what is the key to his success and confidence these days, Parthiv said he has had a good domestic season and is carrying the form into the IPL this year.

However, the Gujarat cricketer said he had worked hard on his game and is glad to get results from it.

“I have worked hard on my game and I am glad that whatever work I have put in, (I am) getting results for it,” he said.

IPL-7: We are going to start 'Gangnam' together with Yuvi: Gayle

B D Narayankar reports

     Bangalore, Apr 14 (PTI) West Indian batsman Chris Gayle
today said that he was looking forward to play along with the
likes of Yuvraj Singh in Royal Challengers Bangalore team in
the IPL which begins in the UAE on Wednesday.
     "Yeah, looking forward to be with some international
stars. Well Yuvi is an Indian star, but you know like always
it is pleasure to share the dressing room with such big
names," Gayle said on the Royal Challengers Bangalore's
official website.
     Gayle said Yuvraj and he can provide fans entertainment
and try to guide the team into the final this season.



     "Yuvi and we are going to start Gangnam style together. I
am sure he is looking forward for that act. We will go out to
have fun and (its) going to be a source of intensity on the
field and give fans what they want - to entertain," he said.
     He said the team was looking forward to grab the trophy
this time around which they failed in the last two seasons.
     "This is a season we are looking forward to. We want to
actually grab it. We have been around in the last two seasons.
We didn't actually make it to the final," he said.
     "We are eager to make best use of good starts. We are a
good all-round squad led by Virat Kohli who is in a great
form. We needed the trophy and I want to go and get it. RCB
here we come," he said.
     "Even I am eager to play with Mitchel Starc," he added.