IPL 2016: We backed our strengths, says Yusuf Pathan after impressive win over RCB

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost four wickets in the form of Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn and Manish Pandey within 11 overs, while chasing a total of 186 runs. RCB were right on top of the game,until Yusuf Pathan and Andre Russell got together.

The required run rate was on the rise, but Pathan and Russell kept their calm to power KKR to their fifth win of IPL 2016.

The partnership of 96 runs from 45 balls between Pathan and Russell took the game away from RCB, and as a result Virat Kohli's side succumbed to their fifth loss of the season.

Pathan was delighted after his match-winning effort and said that the key was the team believed they could get those runs.  

"We were not thinking of anything in particular. We knew if we stuck around and played our shots, the target will not be too difficult to chase," Pathan was quoted as saying by Cricinfo. 

"At one point, when I was setting myself up, Russell played really well, taking the pressure off me. So that was very important that we played for each other.

"We backed our strength. We are two strong guys and he took the pressure off me. Batting with a guy like that made my job easier."

Watch the highlights of RCB vs KKR here.

This was a much-needed victory for KKR, as they had lost two matches in a row prior to their outing against RCB. With this win, against a star-studded RCB, KKR moved to second, behind Gujarat Lions, in the IPL 2016 points table. They have also been boosted by the return of Manish Pandey, who was down with chicken pox and was unavailable in the last few matches. 

Pathan said that KKR are a confident side at the moment and ready for any kind of challenge. 

"The batsmen batting in the middle and lower order feel the pressure of not getting much opportunity. But a good thing for us is now everyone is clicking. We are a confident unit now," Pathan added.

Read KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir's post-match comments.