Bengaluru: Delhi Daredevils required 19 runs from the last over to win their first match of IPL 2017 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Considering how cricket has changed, 19 runs from six deliveries was easily doable, with half-centurion Rishabh Pant at the crease.
RCB captain Shane Watson was under tremendous pressure having already bowled out Billy Stanlake, Tymal Mills, Yuzvendra Chahal and himself. What he did next surprised everyone. The former Australian cricketer called up Pawan Negi to bowl the final over, his first of the match.
The left-arm spinner produced a brilliant over as he picked up two wickets, including that of Pant, at an expense of mere 3 runs, leading RCB to a 15 run victory over DD.
Watson explained his interesting decision in the post-match presentation.
“Just my gut feel with Negi. Pant hadn’t seen him all night. I knew if I had to bowl Iqbal, he had already seen him bowl three. So it was a gamble, no doubt about that. But I know the way Negi bowls, with his variations of speed and flight as well. He’s ready to take on especially against his old team so it worked out very nicely for him,” Watson said.
It was a big gamble but the captain reaped big awards for his franchise.
