IPL 2021: We’re going to win this year reckons RCB's Dan Christian

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) new recruit Dan Christian is confident that his IPL team RCB would finally end its long wait for its first-ever title this year. RCB are one of the only three IPL teams who are yet to win the title even once despite playing in the competition from the very inaugural season. The Bangalore-based outfit’s best result to date is the runners-up finish in 2009, 2011, and 2016.

Last year, the Virat Kohli-led side made it to the playoffs for the first time since 2016 before losing to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. RCB have a strong squad for IPL 2021 and Christian is confident the team can go all the way this year. Last month, RCB had signed him up at the auction for INR 4.8 crore.

“We’re going to win it this year; as a team, we are probably due to winning one, and hopefully, I can help to get over the line. It will be brilliant to bat with Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers on the other end, throw Glenn Maxwell in there as well, a good mate of mine from home in Australia. We have played good cricket together. To be playing or just be sharing the dressing room with those guys will be fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to it, and hopefully, we go really well as a team,” Dan Christian said on an Instagram live session.

Christian earned the contract from RCB after his impressive outing in the 2020-21 BBL where he helped Sydney Sixers win the title. Having won nine T20 titles across the world, Christian definitely knows a thing or two about what it takes to win T20 tournaments and RCB will be looking to cash in on his experience.

Dan Christian on his training for IPL 2021:

The Australia all-rounder further spoke about his preparations for the IPL as he looks to make an impressive comeback in the tournament. Christian has played for four IPL teams including RCB in the past. So far, he has made 40 appearances in the IPL, scoring 446 runs at a strike rate of 119.2. With the ball, he has picked up 34 wickets at an economy of 7.94.

“As an all-rounder, you’ve got to practice everything, worked a lot on my starts and my innings, knocking balls all around and making sure I’m getting off-strike when I’m starting. Also, practiced a bit of my death hitting both the fast bowlers and also hitting some spinners as well. From my bowling perspective, I’m trying to hit that good length as often as I possibly can and then use my different variations, and obviously practicing my yorkers as well,” Christian added.