Nice to know you're a regular - Maxwell

Nice to know you're a regular - Maxwell
Kings XI Punjab's explosive Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell has said that the relaxed atmosphere in the dressing room and the certainty of being a part of the playing XI have helped him make a good start to IPL 2014. Maxwell had struck 95 off 43 balls to help Kings XI chase down 206 with more than an over to spare against Chennai Super Kings in the side's first match.

"It always feels nice when you know that you are going to be a regular in the playing eleven, something which was not possible at a star-studded Mumbai outfit," Maxwell said. "Here I feel more relaxed and don't feel the same pressure of expectations. The start has been good and hopefully we will only get better from here."

Maxwell was the most expensive player at the auctions in 2013 and although Mumbai Indians bought him for $1 million, he played just three games where he scored 36 runs. This year, he was bought by Kings XI Punjab for Rs 6 crore ($1 million) to bolster their batting line-up.

Chahal credits Kumble for IPL success
Legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal has credited his recent successes for Royal Challengers Bangalore to his three-season stint with Mumbai Indians, specially the interaction with Mumbai's chief mentor, Anil Kumble. Chahal was a part of the Mumbai squad from 2011 to 2013 but played only IPL game in the period. In two games for Royal Challengers, Chahal has figures of 1 for 18 and 2 for 17.

"Anil Kumble sir worked with me a lot last year when I was with the Mumbai Indians," Chahal told iplt20.com. "He worked on my action, line and length and my googlies, which was helpful. He also told me at what pace the googlies need to be bowled for them to be effective."

Chahal also said that his knowledge of the Mumbai side helped him bag the wickets of Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard in his side's seven-wicket win on Friday.

"I have seen the way Rohit Sharma bats, and I went with the plan of bowling at the right channels to him. I bowled the googly to him and he played an aerial shot, which helped me take his wicket," he said. "Same is the case with Kieron Pollard; I knew I had to mix up my deliveries and bowl with a lot of variations in pace to him, which got me his wicket.

'Correct cricket' working for Uthappa
Robin Uthappa said his half-century against Delhi Daredevils on Friday was proof that his focus on playing "correct cricket" could help him score runs across formats. Uthappa scored 55 for Kolkata Knight Riders but the innings was in vain as Daredevils pipped Knight Riders by four wickets in the final over.

"I have changed my technique and I have cleaned up my cricket in a big way, which has helped me play more correct cricket. I believe while playing correct, you can still score a lot of runs and score at a good pace. Today's innings against Delhi Daredevils was a proof of that," he told iplt20.com after the match.

Uthappa also said that he took his time at the start of the innings to allow Knight Riders to recover from early wickets and provide support to Manish Pandey, who was more fluent at the crease. The pair added 64 in 9.2 overs to help the side eventually post a strong 166 for 5. Daredevils, however, chased down the target thanks to fifties from Dinesh Karthik and JP Duminy.