“And that self-belief in the bowlers, along with the confidence shown in them by the captain and management, means you hardly see any changes in either side. I think that’s what pays off,” Dahiya told reporters.
With 24 wickets in 14 matches, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kagiso Rabada are the joint-highest wicket-takers among the two sides, with the Indian veteran edging the South African on economy rate. Not far behind is Mohammed Siraj with 17 wickets. With Josh Hazlewood (12), Jason Holder (13), Prasidh Krishna (14) and Rasikh Salam Dar (14) also in the mix, it could turn into an even contest. Add spinners Rashid Khan (19) and Krunal Pandya (11) to the equation, and the battle only gets more intriguing.
Dahiya admitted that negotiating Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay will be crucial, but he also warned RCB that GT possess equal firepower with Siraj and Rabada in their ranks.
“As far as the challenge [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] is concerned, I think the same can be said for our opposition as well. If you talk about the powerplay, our numbers are among the best in this tournament. So if the conditions are favourable, it works for both teams,” said Dahiya.
RCB captain Rajat Patidar echoed the sentiment, stressing how crucial Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s role could be when he takes on Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, the two highest run-scorers of the season.
“Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the powerplay will be very crucial. We’ll look for early wickets and that is what we have done throughout the tournament. Repeating the same process again and again can make the difference. That is what Bhuvi has done, and we hope to continue in the same way,” said Patidar.
In a season dominated by batting headlines and soaring totals, Qualifier 1 may ultimately come down to which bowling attack can hold its nerve for a few crucial overs. On a ground built for big hits, the team whose bowlers blink last could well seal a direct spot in the IPL final.