WATCH: RCB’s Dan Christian innovates by falling over to wrong side in bowling stride
Australian all-rounder Dan Christian opted for an interesting unorthodox ploy with the ball in the closing stages of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) encounter against Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2021 on Sunday (September 26).
Even with MI requiring a further 67 runs off the remaining 30 balls for a win, RCB could hardly feel relaxed and secure about the situation as the opposition had two of their strongest power-hitters Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya standing at the crease.
Despite this, however, RCB made a surprising move to go back to Christian for another over of right-arm medium pace considering the bowler had gone for plenty earlier in the innings.
But the Aussie cricketer didn’t disappoint his team and skipper Virat Kohli. He delivered an extremely tight over, giving away just six runs under pressure against the mighty Pollard and Hardik to further push the game in RCB’s favour.
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Dan Christian came up with an interesting ploy to restrict Pollard and Hardik in IPL 2021.
Dan Christian adopts mid-way run-up fall to befool Pollard, Hardik
However, it was not so much the miserly nature of the six balls and the impact of the over that stood out for the viewers but the unique change in action that Dan Christian had adapted in the thick of action.
Thinking on his feet, Christian restricted Pollard and Hardik with a ploy that shall make fans and experts laud him for his shrewd planning and execution.
Placing a leg-side dominated field for the two attacking right-handers, the right-arm pacer went around-the-wicket to try and cramp them through a line aimed for their bodies.
But recognising that it might still be a risk to bowl full at the pads of Pollard and Hardik, who have the power to flick the ball over the boundary ropes, Christian also brought a last-minute fall to his action and added a layer of deception about his angle of release.
This tweak proved really effective against Pollard and Hardik as the two batters could only nudge the ball through the on-side for one two and four singles off the six balls they faced in the over.
The mid-action fall befooled Hardik, Pollard and blurred their judgment of the angle, while Dan Christian enhanced their troubles bowling a slow off-cutter into the pitch that was playing dry for most parts of the MI-RCB encounter in Dubai.
Dan Christian in 16th over yesterday
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— . (@Ashesquee) September 27, 2021
Commendably, when everyone felt it was a mistake on RCB’s part to bring Christian back into the attack, he delivered an over of great smarts and execution under pressure.
The 38-year-old playing his first game of the UAE leg of IPL 2021 had conceded 15 runs off an over during the powerplay but made up for it with a tight over during the final stage of the game, playing his part in RCB’s handsome victory over the defending champions.