Murali gave me tips on how to bowl on this wicket: Appanna – Cricket News Update
Royal Challengers Bangalore bowler, KP Appanna, has given the credit for his recent 4-wicket haul against the Rajasthan Royals to legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, whom he claims guided him on how to exploit the wicket at the Sawai Mansingh
Stadium in Jaipur on April 23.
“He (Murali) is a great bowler and he is sitting out only because we can play only four overseas players, but his contribution is there. He always guides me. Infact, he gave tips about how to bowl on this wicket,” Appanna said.
The 23-year-old had only been included in the Challengers’ playing XI once before, for the match against the Pune Warriors in Bangalore on April 17 – an encounter which the Challengers went on to win narrowly by 6 wickets. Appanna however, was unremarkable,
claiming zero wickets and conceding 23 runs in just 2 overs – an economy rate of 11.50.
Despite this, he managed to make a spectacular comeback recently against the Royals, following up a solid batting performance by AB de Villiers (59 off 23) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (76) with an effective bowling display.
The left-armer went on to dismiss the entire opposing top-order, sending promising young opener Ajinkya Rahane (who has managed scores such as 98 and 103 in the current season so far) back to the pavilion on 13, and following that up with the prized wicket
of Royals’ skipper Rahul Dravid, restricting him to 58 before he became too much of a threat for the Challengers.
In addition to a quick dismissal of wicketkeeper batsman Shreevats Goswami on 1, Appanna also went on to take out England batsman Owais Shah (10), who has been a fairly consistent performer for his side so far, having registered scores such as 76, 60, and
52.
“Though I got four wickets, Owais Shah's was the prized one,” Appanna remarked. “It gave me satisfaction as he has been playing so well and I could deceive him with flight.”
The young spinner’s recent heroics may earn him a spot in the playing XI for the Challengers’ next match, as they prepare to face off against the Chennai Super Kings on April 25.
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