In the current IPL 2023, Virat Kohli is in incredible form, making 103 runs in just two games. The former India all-rounder, Irfan Pathan, praised the Delhi-born cricketer but also said that he shouldn’t be opening for the team after he helped Royal Challengers Bangalore defeat the Mumbai Indians.
Irfan Pathan believes that RCB are overly dependent on the 34-year-old and that this needs to alter because he expects other batters to step up.
“RCB’s season is starting off differently this time around as runs are coming off Virat Kohli’s bat in the early going. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that he will keep up his scoring rate (or for the rest of the season) and help you win every game.
“In a competition like this, the RCB team’s other batters will need to be prepared for the challenge and demonstrate their skills and roles. Also, I don’t believe Kohli should start the RCB batting order, Pathan added in a statement to Star Sports.
Teams will try to capitalize on the fact that the RCB middle order appears to be weak: Mr. Moody
The middle order for Bangalore hasn’t produced in the tournament thus far. There is significant cause for concern because none of the players, including Glenn Maxwell, Michael Bracewell, and Dinesh Karthik, have been able to establish themselves during the competition. Tom Moody, a former cricketer, made the similar observation and thinks other teams might profit from it by pressing hard against Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis.
Teams will want to take advantage of RCB’s middle order’s perceived weakness and quickly dismiss Kohli and Faf. The game versus RCB would be very much in play if the other sides are able to pick up a few wickets during the powerplays, according to Moody.
Importantly, Bangalore will face Lucknow Super Giants on April 10 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after a humbling loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.
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