Newsfile: May 14

Prasad lauds Vettori: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad has hailed captain Daniel Vettori's decision to give up his spot in the playing XI for Muttiah Muralitharan. Vettori picked up just five wickets from nine games, and post his decision, Royal Challengers have enjoyed a run of three straight victories. "It is magnanimous of Dan to sit out,” Prasad said on the eve of the clash with Mumbai Indians. “Stepping aside as a player is understandable but doing it as a captain is incredible. It shows that the atmosphere in the team is positive. And Murali has done very well after coming in.” Prasad indicated the arrangement was likely to continue and also had words of praise for Virat Kohli, the stand-in captain. "It is not just that he [Kohli] has been vibrant on the field, he has been taking key positions as well, fielding at long-on or midwicket or wherever required. His bowling changes have also been fantastic. He has shown that he is ready to take on responsibility.”