Just 36 hours after losing to the same Punjab Kings at home for the third time in a row, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 73 off 54, his record 67th IPL fifty, helped RCB win five straight away games in New Chandigarh.
After two quiet seasons with the Rajasthan Royals and the Lucknow Super Giants, Kohli stated that he would have handed the title to “Dev”—Devdutt Padikkal—who has found consistency and form at No. 3 since rejoining the RCB.
Kohli and Padikkal led RCB to victory with a 103-run partnership after Phil Salt was dismissed in the opening over of their 158-run chase.
Building on his intent-laden efforts such as 37 against the Mumbai Indians and 27 against the Chennai Super Kings, when he relieved pressure on Kohli following Salt’s dismissals, Padikkal, the aggressor, hammered 61 off 35, his maiden fifty of the season.
While praising Padikkal for his aggression, Kohli remarked, “There have been occasions where I felt like I wanted to accelerate more and more,” However, I believe it was realising that if Salty doesn’t start, it’s my responsibility to let the others around me play as they do.
“Yes, I used my experience to win the game, but Dev could play that way around me; perhaps Rajat [Patidar] could do the same. I thus make an effort to remain inside long enough for the others to realise that I’m holding one end and that I can speed if necessary.”
With seven balls remaining on Sunday afternoon, RCB easily won the match; at various points in time, it appeared as though they may have won sooner. According to Kohli, their somewhat temperate approach was determined by the surface and conditions.
“Look, there’s always a temptation to keep going the same way,” he stated. “I believe you must comprehend the circumstances, which we haven’t really done at home. We learnt from the first two games [in Bengaluru], but the final game was cut short, so we had to exert ourselves once more. However, I believe that when you visit a new location, like Rajasthan, you have to evaluate the pitch, go check out the conditions, and then work to establish a strong working relationship.
“In T20 cricket, one partnership is usually sufficient in a good run-chase. I make an effort to apply my experience in those circumstances to remain there long enough to establish those relationships, and if necessary, I may speed up. Although I’m still holding one end, it seems to be working for us when I recognise the abilities of the other players around me and let them steal the game from the opposition.”
With the victory, RCB advances to third place and joins four other teams on 10 points, sparking rumours that “No. 18 [Kohli’s jersey number] is special in the IPL.” When asked if this year feels different from previous years, Kohli emphasised that the team has been doing better because to a “very good auction” and lower-order batting depth.
His words, “We got the team that we wanted,” “I believe that everyone was in a panic on the first day, but these guys [team management] were really calm. They had a clear idea who they wanted. And when you watch players like Tim David, Jitesh Sharma, Rajat, [Liam] Livingstone, and Salty, you can see that they are playing their natural style. At No. 3, Dev is performing this incredible role for us.
“With Romario [Shepherd] added, it’s fitting together nicely and offers us even more firepower at the back. Two of your players are capable of hitting ten sixes in eighteen balls. Thus, it was absent from every other season.
“We had to handle the majority of the scoring in the top order during the previous several seasons. This time, however, it seems like guys can maintain that momentum and continue to counterattack even if someone leaves, as was the case in Chennai and Mumbai.
“It seems really well-balanced. For the team, the lads are eager to perform. That intensity is evident in the field. Just by seeing their body language and how they act on the pitch, you can also sense that feistiness.”
RCB has not yet won two of their next three home games. On April 24, they will play the Rajasthan Royals.
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