Rajkumar Sharma played an instrumental role in Virat Kohli’s transformation and is often credited for making the Indian captain the cricketer that he is today. As his coach, Sharma groomed Kohli in his formative years. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Guardian, Rajkumar Sharma looks at Royal Challengers Bangalore’s chances in IPL 2020. Excerpts:
Q. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has once again shown confidence in Virat Kohli. The team will play under his captaincy in IPL 2020. What do you have to say about it?
A. RCB has not won this tournament even once. It is a favourite all the time. But it hasn’t won a single title yet. It has reached the final three times. This time the team has a good player. I hope that it wins this time.
Q. RCB players A.B. de Villiers, Dale Steyn and Chris Morris have also reached Dubai. The South African trio makes the team a formidable one. What is your take on it?
A. These three players are such that they can win matches on their own and this camp is very long. It is a good thing as well. Players will get a chance to know each other and will be able to point out each other’s shortcomings enabling them to overcome them. This time the camp is very long, before the IPL, the preparation of RCB will also be good. Through this camp, you will also get the idea to make your best 11 because the fast bowling attack is also looking good. RCB’s Dale Steyn, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav and Morris together make a very good fast bowling attack. It is always said that RCB makes a lot of runs but cannot defend but this time their bowling attack looks good and hopefully this time the team will do well.
Q. Aaron Finch, who is the captain of Australian team for ODI and T20, is very excited to play under the captaincy of Virat Kohli in RCB. Do you think Finch’s presence will add greater strength to RCB?
A. Of course, there is no doubt about it. He has played in a lot of matches and in winning innings for his country. There is no doubt that this team has a lot of impact players. This time, there is an opener like Aaron Finch, then AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli. Kohli is a local player, he plays from Karnataka, he is a very good batsman, he is also a very good player overall, and this time he is a very influential player if everyone plays like a unit, it will be difficult for all the teams to beat them.
Q. In the IPL auction, Morris was sold for a huge amount. What was, according to you, the reason for that?
A. See there was always a shortage of an all-rounder inside RCB and that can probably be fulfilled by Chris Morris. One thing is import and that is the death over. Saini and Umesh are good bowlers. Still RCB was having a lot of problems from that point of view. So, Chris Morris is also considered an experienced bowler and a master of death overs, then it will be a big benefit for RCB. Batting lineup is also strong so that would be a big plus for RCB.
Q. Australian player Kane Richardson is also in the RCB squad. What about spin attack of the squad, with just Yuzvendra Chahal seeming to be effective? How about Pawan Negi or Washington Sundar?
A. Of course, this is more of a concern if you look at the spin department altogether. However, Chahal is an experienced bowler who has a lot of idea now. His spell of four overs would be okay. But the spin department definitely looks weak as you rightly pointed out. If Sundar is allowed to bowl early then he is fine there but later he has difficulties if he takes out his three overs in the power play. Then it is a good bet for RCB and if they get hit initially. It becomes difficult to handle them. This department of RCB appears to be weak. In this, I think if Moeen Ali plays, puts his four overs, then he can definitely help RCB.
Q. With Finch, Kohli and de Villiers around, how do you look at the batting lineup of RCB? Particularly, de Villiers’ performance has been superb in past few matches.
A. He is a very big player, I would say that in T20 cricket, there is no player bigger than him, no matter whether it’s Chris Gayle or any other player. There is no player bigger than him. He can play shots everywhere. And that makes him a big batsman. Kohli is there to play huge role as captain. Villiers and Aaron Finch are both such players, if they play ten overs, it could make a big impact in this season of IPL.
Q. Last question is for youngsters who are also in RCB. Shivam Dubey, Mohammad Siraj and Navdeep Saini are all youngsters ready give dazzling performance and impress skipper Kohli. What is your take on that?
A. See, when the captain is the captain of your country, then you have a very good chance and Navdeep Saini has created a good place for himself. As regards Navdeep Saini, if the effort is good this year, then his place will be confirmed in the team and the opportunity is also good for Shivam Dubey and Siraj. Both have chance to impress the captain. Virat is a player who wants to have such players in his team who are gutsy and can take risk as far as performance is concerned.