There's an opportunity to develop my skills in a short space of time: Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan, who was drafted into the Royal Challengers squad as Mitchell Starc’s replacement has stated that he was overwhelmed after joining the team. Jordan did not feature in the previous home game against KKR. He hasn’t even had a full training session with the team yet after the optional sessions and two subsequent ones being washed out by rain. However, The seam bowling all-rounder is optimistic about his team’s chances and admitted that the temperament in the camp was still upbeat.

“The boys in the camp are quite positive at the moment,” said Jordan on Friday (May 6), ahead of their Indian Premier League clash against Rising Pune Supergiants. “We have everything that’s gone before this behind us and we are really looking forward to the challenges ahead which we are trying to embrace. If we do come out winning, obviously it will be a great turnaround. Guys will be going into play-offs in great form, and who knows (what will happen) after going into the backend of the tournament,” he added optimistically.

Jordan sees this IPL stint as an opportunity to maximize his learning. England and Wales Cricket Board bit reserved about sending their players to participate in the IPL. But, Jordan is the 5th Englishman who will take part in the league after Kevin Pietersen, Sam Billings, Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler.

“This year is a good opportunity for playing in high-pressure situations with high-pressure games more often than not. There is a little bit of shift obviously, and the bigger heads in the ECB are okay. I can’t see anything other than that’s beneficial to English cricket.

“If I was in England, I would have been playing for my home club which is Sussex which I love playing for. But having had discussions with the top guys at the ECB, there is an opportunity to develop my game, develop my skills in a short space of time, so they encouraged me to go,” said Jordan.

Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling unit is perhaps most most-underperforming attack in the tournament. If he gets a chance to play, Jordan will take the field with a lot of expectations on him. However, Jordan isn’t stressing upon anything and says he plans to stick to his basics.

“I don’t really look at it in that sense,” said Jordan. “What people think from the outside is not really my concern, more like how my teammates and the coaches see me. I’m just going to try and go out there and do what I normally do, which is give my best and hope I can give my 100 per cent.

“As far as the bowling is concerned, it’s not really for me to say (what’s going wrong). The guys are working really hard at training and obviously have great skill level. The way things are going right now for the team, that’s life. We just need to keep looking forward to the next game and game after that and hopefully, RCB gets back to winning ways.”

Despite the growing number of injuries for Rising Pune Supergiants, with Faf du Plessis, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh and Pietersen being ruled out of the tournament, they still managed to cross the line by seven wickets against a Delhi Daredevils side that opted to leave their mainstay players out. The confidence of that win, with the replacement players standing up will hold them in good stead coming the clash in Bangalore.

“Every game is a must win game from now on,” conceded Jordan. “Yes, we can be tempted to look too far ahead, but first and foremost, we’ll have to deal with the game tomorrow. Every game has to be treated like a semifinal now and if we treat it like that, all the boys will give 150 percent. Pune won last night as well so they will be growing in confidence, so hopefully we can stop them.”

Also, Read – Chris Harris retrieves his debut cap back after a decade it was stolen