DUBAI: After registering a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) all-rounder Glenn Maxwell praised Srikar Bharat, calling him a "genuine top-class batter".
Chasing 150 to win, Maxwell and Bharat scored 50 and 44 respectively as RCB defeated the Royals by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare. With this win, RCB consolidated its position at the third spot with 14 points from 11 games.
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"I wouldn't call it (pushing Bharat up to No. 3) an experiment. H is a genuine top-class batter and the way he has gone about his innings is outstanding," Maxwell told host broadcaster Star Sports after the game ended.
"I thought we played really well. They (RR) got off to an absolute flier and to bring them back in the last 10 overs was outstanding, then we controlled the tempo of the innings and finished it off," Maxwell said.
For Sanju Samson's RR, opener Evin Lewis top-scored with a knock of 58 runs from 37 balls and added 77 runs for the first wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal (31 off 22).
RR were 100/1 at one stage, but two wickets apiece by spinners Yuzvendra Chahal & Shahbaz Nadeem and Harshal Patel's three-wicket final over helped RCB restrict RR to 149/9.
Chahal was adjudged 'Man of the Match'.
"I have felt good since coming here, got myself into a nice routine at training and outside of training as well, just feel like it is really clicking for me. I don't suppose it (the atmosphere) is different to any other franchise, just what we have created as a group," said Maxwell.
"It is nice to have a bunch of guys doing different things and not relying on one guy. Everyone is chipping in and it has been a really enjoyable group so far," the Australian all-rounder added.
RCB will next square off against Punjab Kings on Sunday.
