Opening spell from Zaheer & Vinay pushed Mumbai Indians on back-foot: Gayle

Winning the toss against Mumbai Indians proved to be crucial and bowling first, our attack took advantage of the conditions that were on offer, says Royal Challengers Bangalore player Chris Gayle.

“I thought Zaheer (Khan) and Vinay Kumar did an excellent job in those first four overs to push Mumbai back and that opening burst was the difference between the two sides. The conditions did not change too much through to the second innings, which is where we needed to be cautious at the start of the chase. The good news was that the required rate wasn’t too high when we started off and we could afford to see off their opening bowlers. Dilshan did well to survive the initial onslaught from Malinga and Co and that put us on course to our sixth win in the competition,” writes Chris Gayle in his column in The Times Of India, adding that his innings against Mumbai is one of his favourite ones this season, given the situation Bangalore was in.

Meanwhile cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar says his 11-year old son Arjun is in "love" with cricket, which 'starts from heart and then travel up to brain when you grow up'. Tendulkar said it was his son's own choice to start playing cricket and nobody forced him into the game. He want Arjun to enjoy being on the field instead of thinking about the number of hours he has practised, says a report in The Indian Express.

"As long as he is in love with cricket, it's fine. Then you don't look at your watch or count the number of hours you've practised. It's the sheer joy and satisfaction of being on the field. And that's what I want [for him].”

Quashing recent reports that the BCCI has been contemplating shifting the qualifier 2 (on May 25) and final (on May 27) out of the city for want of crowds at MA Chidambaram Stadium, a top BCCI official said DNA that  the plan has been stalled.

“There is no such move. The reports are unfounded. The schedule remains as it is and the final will be held in Chennai,” a top BCCI official, who didn’t want to be named, said with finality. “The Chennai crowd will not be deprived of the action,” he added.

With three stands at the venue remaining unused for want of approval from the Chennai City Corporati¬on authorities, there had been a talk that the BCCI might look elsewhere to hold the key games.