South African star AB de Villiers believes the biggest challenge for all teams in the upcoming Indian Premier League will be adjusting
Dubai: South African star AB de Villiers believes the biggest challenge for all teams in the upcoming Indian Premier League will be adjusting to the prevailing hot and humid conditions in the UAE.
Most games will be played in the night but the conditions would still be challenging.
De Villiers"I am not really used to these kind of conditions to be honest. It's very hot, it reminds me of a Test match we played in July in Chennai once where Viru (Virender Sehwag) scored 300. It was one the hottest weather conditions I have experience in my life," he said.
"The humidity is similar to that, even at 10 at night. When I arrived here I checked the weather conditions of a few months and it seems to be getting better. It is definitely going to play a part and you have to make sure you have the energy for the backend of the innings or last 5 overs of your bowling spell."
Virat Kohli and AB de VilliersDe Villiers said he would also miss playing in front of packed crowds in India with the event to be played behind closed doors in UAE due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I think obviously all are used to playing in front of crowds in big stage, there is certainly an amount of adrenaline that pumped into you when it gets really loud, especially in Chinnaswany when the RCB crowd gets going, it is difficult to stop the RCB team. So, well miss that there is no doubt about it.
Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers
"But I won't say I am not used to it, I have played a lot of cricket in empty stadiums. I grew up like that. It's only in my international career that I have played in front of crowd," he said.
Virat Kohli-led RCB will open their IPL campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Dubai on September 21.
