Purple cap motivates me to try harder: Vinay Kumar

Bangalore, April 21 (IANS) Royal Challenger Bangalore's medium pacer Vinay Kumar feels that getting the purple cap has motivated him to try harder in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

His three wickets in the last match against Rajasthan Royals took him to the top of the wicket-takers chart.

"It is changing heads right now but at the end of the tournament, I would like to have it," he said to iplt20.com.

He termed the first game against the Mumbai Indians in which he defended 10 runs in the final over as his best performance this season.

"They had batsmen like Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Kieron Pollard batting for them at that time and to have won the match by restricting them was a very good feeling," he said.

However, he was happy with his performance against Rajasthan Royals Saturday too.

"I will not discount this performance. I bowled really well, " he said.

Vinay Kumar credited his good performances this season to the senior cricketers in Bangalore team and as well as the Indian team.

"I have come across many coaches and senior bowlers who have helped me become a better bowler. When I spent some time with the Indian team, people like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and others talked to me about my bowling. All those experiences helped me grow as a bowler," he said.

He said IPL had helped him to mature as a bowler and developed his ability to thrive under pressure.

"Now when I face a pressure situation, I go in with confidence. In IPL if you're not mentally tough you will not survive. You have to be smart, back yourself in crunch situations and keep evolving."