Bangalore, May 9 (IANS) Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Daniel Vettori said they need to find the 'best' replacement for Tillakaratne Dilshan as the success of the openers in the coming matches will be crucial in maintaining the team's five-match winning streak.
RCB is on the lookout for a befitting opener to partner Chris Gayle, as his counterpart Dilshan has left for Colombo to lead the Sri Lanka squad on a England tour this summer.
"We need to pick among the best players to partner with Gayle as opening the innings and putting up a strong partnership is crucial in a T20 format. We have a couple of good options to replace Dilshan, who clicked so well with Gayle in the last couple of games," said Daniel Vettori at a post-match media briefing Sunday.
Dashing opener Dilshan, who has been named skipper of Sri Lanka for the English tour, will not be available for the rest of the IPL season.
Prior to Gayle joining the RCB midway, Mayank Agarwal opened the innings with Dilshan in the first four games. Barring 33 in the opening tie against Kochi Tuskers at Kochi April 9, Agarwal failed to click in the next three games, which the home team lost on a trot to Mumbai Indians (April 12), Deccan Chargers (April 14) and Chennai Super Kings (April 16).
"Though Gayle and Dilshan served our purpose very well and gave winning partnerships in the last four-five games, we will decide on the other opener before the next game against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur May 11."
Delighted over the fifth straight win in the popular tournament, Vettori hoped the team would sustain the momentum to ensure a semi-final berth in the play-offs by going all-out in the remaining four league matches, two away and two on the home turf.
"We have been playing some good cricket over the last two-three weeks to win five games at a stretch. We are working hard to maintain the tempo so that we don't become complacent and ensure a place in the semis to reach the final," Vettori asserted.
On Gayle's spirited innings turning the game once again in their way, Vettori said it was a joy to watch the West Indian play his natural game and score sixes and fours at ease.
"It is his (Gayle) natural instinct and talent that has kept him going great. I just leaned back and watched him go on fire. It was a delight to see him swing the match in our way in a single over with a blistering 36 runs," Vettori recalled.
Opening the innings, Gayle hit 44 runs off 16 balls with five sixes and three hits to the boundary and made it easier for Dilshan and Virat Kohli to trample Tuskers by nine wickets in 13.1 overs at the Chinnaswamy stadium here.