IPL 2018: We've lacked a little bit of something in every game, says RCB's Chris Woakes
When Royal Challengers Bangalore capitulated for 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017, Chris Woakes was one of their tormentors, finishing with figures of 2-0-6-3. The then-KKR all-rounder, almost a year down the line, finds himself sharing a dressing-room with the players he terrorised with his bowling.
Bought for Rs 7.40 crores in the 2018 auction, Woakes has had a mixed start to his time with the Bangalore-based franchise. Though eight wickets in four matches see the all-rounder sit atop the wicket-takers list alongside Mumbai's Mayank Markande, he has leaked runs in excess of 10 runs per over and his team find themselves on the wrong end of the points table.
The 29-year-old, however, has confidence in the squad RCB have put up and believes they are just a couple of wins away from gaining momentum. Woakes spoke exclusively to Sportskeeda on how he has adjusted to the new atmosphere, RCB's indifferent start, the decision reversal on Hardik Pandya's wicket and expectations from the remainder of the season.
What do you think about the squad RCB have put together this season and the performance of the team thus far?
We've got a great squad and a very strong set of players here - big players who haven't played a game and are knocking on the door to get into the team. Yes, this hasn't been an ideal start for us (won one and lost three), but things turn quickly in T20 cricket.
We have a world-class squad, led by a world-class captain and I'm sure we're just a couple of wins away from getting some good momentum in the tournament, pushing on for the playoffs. There's still a long way to go though and I'm very excited for the rest of the tournament. It hasn't started the way we would have liked but we have plenty of time ahead and momentum can shift very quickly in T20 cricket.
Since you were playing against the RCB players all these years, how does it feel like playing alongside them and adjusting to the new team combinations?
It's pretty easy, we are guys that have played in different teams across the world and when we come into a new team environment, it's pretty easy to get used to it. Very welcoming side here, the coaching staff has been brilliant with all the players and it's a good family atmosphere.
You're one of the contenders for the Purple Cap this season. Is that something you have at the back of your mind?
Not really. It's nice to have taken quite a few wickets so far, and hopefully, I can continue to do the job for the team. Taking wickets is crucial in T20 cricket, that often wins you games - guys getting two or three-wicket hauls. Obviously, if you've picked more than that, you've had an amazing day. But it's not something I'm concentrating on, if I ball well and stick to my plans then hopefully I'd pick more wickets and win matches for the team.
What are your expectations in terms of batting this season? Would you like to bat higher up the order?
It's hard to bat up the order in this team. We've got some very strong players through the middle order and at the top as well, so, down at seven or eight is probably where I'm going to bat, where I usually bat in T20 cricket. I'm used to that role and happy to continue playing there.
What have RCB missed so far this season?
To be honest, we've lacked a little bit of something in every game, whether that be with the bowling at the back end of an innings or with the bat where we've lost clumps of wickets - two or three wickets in a couple of overs. If we continue to do that, it becomes difficult to rebuild (an innings) and more so in T20 cricket. If we can try and put both combinations together where we bowl well for 20 overs and bat well also, we'll definitely win more games of cricket.
Do you think there needs to be a change in RCB's approach to death bowling?
Don't think there needs to be a change of approach. I think we need to continue working hard on executing our skills better. The plans we've set up with the coaching staff, the right plans, we just need to execute them once.
Virat Kohli spoke highly of you during his presser the other day and backed you. What would you like to say about that?
It's always good to have the backing of the captain, in any team. The backing from Virat is a high recommendation - from a world class player but also a world class captain and leader. He's known around the world for his qualities and it's great to be in the same team as him. I've played against him for a long time and it's nice to have him on my side for a change.
Is Kohli as aggressive with his captaincy as he is with his batting?
I wouldn't say he is aggressive, he's obviously very passionate about the game, passionate about leading this team and wants to win, like we all do. Sometimes that comes out on the field as aggression, but I think it's a controlled aggression. Off the field, he's very much the opposite, a nice chilled out guy who just gets on with the game.
What is your take on the decision reversal for Hardik Pandya's wicket against Mumbai Indians?
The snickometer did show something. It was a strange decision from our side of things, obviously, as it was given out on the field. There was a flicker on the snicko which would suggest - even if it's a faint noise - there was something. Unfortunately, the decision was overturned which we believe was a mistake. It cost us badly actually.
How has it been working with the likes of Daniel Vettori behind the scenes?
Vettori is very good - these coaches that do a lot of T20 cricket around the world are very good as they open up different ideas for players like me who haven't played as many T20 tournaments around the globe. They have different views and different ideas about T20 cricket, which opens up various avenues for players like me. Really enjoying working with Dan. Andrew McDonald, Trent Woodhill, Gary Kirsten, we've got a great coaching staff here along with Ashish Nehra as well, who has played 10 years of IPL. Plenty of experience so that's great for us.