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  3. Heat pushes Du Plessis to bat first in IPL

Heat pushes Du Plessis to bat first in IPL

Greenwtch Cricket 2022-04-30, 7:43pm




Mumbai, 30 April  - Fears that players would get "cooked" in India's intense heatwave prompted Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first against the Gujarat Titans in their Saturday IPL match.

Millions have sweltered through furnace-like heat across India and Pakistan, with cities in both countries enduring power and water shortages.

Temperatures are cooler in Mumbai, which is hosting the weekend's Indian Premier League fixtures, but Du Plessis said the heat was still an important consideration.

"We are going to break the trend and have a bat first," said Du Plessis.

"Obviously it is a day game, heat is one factor and I find that when you field first the boys are cooked by the time it is our turn to bat."

Bangalore, searching for their maiden IPL title, have lost two straight matches and are hoping for star batter Virat Kohli to come out of his batting slump.