 "Rajasthan Royals are not underdogs, says Stuart Binny")
Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Stuart Binny today said his team is not the underdogs ahead of tomorrow's match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Chinnaswamy Stadium here.
"We are a very relaxed team. We don't have big names in our side, we don't have guys who can demolish teams in T20 cricket, but we are a unit that is very balanced. We've got a good set of bowlers and a lot of experience in our team so I wouldn't say we're underdogs at the moment," he said.
"We would have been, probably, at the start if the tournament but the way we've played, we're pretty happy so it's important to continue with this momentum," he told reporters.
"Rahul Dravid has a big influence on the team since he has played so much international cricket and also is lot more flexible as was evident in the last game when he did not bat showing Rajasthan's batting does not revolve around him.
"Having a guy like Rahul bhai helps a lot, especially since T20 is all about pressure," Binny said.
"Rahul bhai and myself have a lot of meetings. With Paddy Upton now in the set-up, we do sit and discuss players and strategies. Rahul bhai off the field is very relaxed just like the cricket he plays," he added.
Talking about his role, Binny said his job is to set up the tempo by batting aggressively and bowling whenever needed.
"It's not that I have to bowl four overs in every game. I hadn't bowled in the first two-three games, but in the last game, I bowled three overs, which was quite exciting," he said.
Binny said it is always exciting to play before his home crowd.
"I haven't been home in two months so I am excited to be back and I am looking forward to a good game. I know RCB is like a home team, but RCB is not my home, Karnataka is my home. So (RCB) it is just a franchise and we will try to go out there and beat them," he said.
"We are a very relaxed team. We don't have big names in our side, we don't have guys who can demolish teams in T20 cricket, but we are a unit that is very balanced. We've got a good set of bowlers and a lot of experience in our team so I wouldn't say we're underdogs at the moment," he said.
"We would have been, probably, at the start if the tournament but the way we've played, we're pretty happy so it's important to continue with this momentum," he told reporters.
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Binny said skipper Rahul Dravid is very flexible.
"Rahul Dravid has a big influence on the team since he has played so much international cricket and also is lot more flexible as was evident in the last game when he did not bat showing Rajasthan's batting does not revolve around him.
"Having a guy like Rahul bhai helps a lot, especially since T20 is all about pressure," Binny said.
"Rahul bhai and myself have a lot of meetings. With Paddy Upton now in the set-up, we do sit and discuss players and strategies. Rahul bhai off the field is very relaxed just like the cricket he plays," he added.
Talking about his role, Binny said his job is to set up the tempo by batting aggressively and bowling whenever needed.
"It's not that I have to bowl four overs in every game. I hadn't bowled in the first two-three games, but in the last game, I bowled three overs, which was quite exciting," he said.
Binny said it is always exciting to play before his home crowd.
"I haven't been home in two months so I am excited to be back and I am looking forward to a good game. I know RCB is like a home team, but RCB is not my home, Karnataka is my home. So (RCB) it is just a franchise and we will try to go out there and beat them," he said.