Won’t be easy for de Villiers, Kohli at Eden: KKR’s Yusuf

Kolkata, May 15 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) swashbuckling batsman Yusuf Pathan on Sunday said it won’t be easy for Royal Challngers Bangalore's fiery pair of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers to settle down on the Eden track when the two sides meet in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match on Monday.

The RCB pair blasted their side to a massive 248/3 against the Gujarat Lions on Saturday. While Kohli scored a 55-ball 109, de Villiers remained not out on 129.

“You have to praise both of them. They got a hundred each. Virat has three hundreds now. But at the Eden it is a different wicket and an away match for them," Yusuf told reporters at an event here.

"The conditions are also different, so they need to settle down once again which won’t be easy. We have been playing here so we have the home advantage. We will be concentrating on the positives.”

The Vadodara cricketer smashed a 18-ball 37 against Rising Pune Supergiants on Saturday at the Eden chasing 66 runs in nine overs. When he walked out to bat, KKR were in a spot of bother at 8/2.

“I was not thinking about much, when I came out to bat. I have been playing well this season so I was confident. Just wanted to play like how I have been playing and got the results,” Yusuf said.

Supergiants coach Stephen Fleming lambasted the Duckworth-Lewis system as KKR were given an easy target to chase down after rain affected the tie. But Pathan chose to speak otherwise.

“Yes, it is a problem when matches get reduced that way but we are professional cricketers and we need to adjust to it,” he said.

“Whoever has made the system must have thought about it before making such a thing. My job is to play cricket and play according to the conditions.”

Asked about the misfiring RCB bowling unit, Yusuf said:” You never know when things can click, you can’t predict. If you say they have strong batting that might also not click on certain days. It is not like that bowlers can’t win you matches.“

KKR’s main spinning weapon Sunil Narine has been off-colour this edition but Yusuf believes other tweakers have made up for the Trinidadian’s lack of form.

“Piyush (Chawla) is bowling well. The spinners performing well. We are not dependant on one bowler. Everybody is chipping in whenever they are getting opportunities,” added the 33-year-old.