In another impressive performance, batting ace Virat Kohli played a key role in helping the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secure a solid victory. By scoring an unbeaten 73 runs off 54 balls, he helped the team chase down a target of 158 runs against the Punjab Kings. This win marked RCB’s fifth consecutive away victory, which is quite an impressive feat. What makes it even more interesting is that they had just lost to the same team less than two days before.
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Kohli’s partnership with Devdutt Padikkal was crucial, as they put together a solid 103-run alliance, with Padikkal contributing 61 runs. Their efforts resulted in a seven-wicket win over the Punjab side. Kohli proudly mentioned how holding one end of the pitch has been a successful strategy for the team, allowing others to play their natural aggressive game while he focuses on building the innings. He pointed out that his fourth half-century of the season has helped RCB secure a place in the top three, bringing their points total to 10 from five wins.
During the post-match interview, Kohli was modest about his performance, insisting that the spotlight should be on Padikkal. He said, “I thought Dev made a difference today. This award should go to him; I don’t know why they’ve given it to me.” Kohli went on to express his desire to understand the strengths of his teammates better, adding that he feels comfortable holding up one end of the innings, which seems to be working well for the team.
He emphasized how the team is on a good path and how players like Padikkal and Rajat Patidar can build around him. Kohli also acknowledged the importance of forming key partnerships in a T20 run chase, stating, “In T20 cricket, one partnership is enough.” He’s been off to a great start this season with 8,326 runs in his IPL career and 322 runs this season alone.
Kohli highlighted that this recent win was important because moving from 8 to 10 points could change the team’s standing in the league. He praised how well they have performed away from home and stressed the need to keep aiming for two points in every match.
Reflecting on the current season’s auction, Kohli felt it brought a lot of balance to the RCB side. “It was a very good auction for us. We got the team we wanted, and everything is falling into place nicely. That was something we missed in previous seasons. You can see that everyone is bringing a great level of intensity and fight.”
On the flip side, skipper Patidar, who had a quiet game scoring only 12 runs, shared his thoughts on the contributions of Kohli and Padikkal. He noted, “All credit goes to the bowlers. The way Dev and Kohli executed their plans was amazing. We just told the bowlers to stick to a tight line, and everyone put in great effort.” He humorously added that winning the toss at home would be a good start for the team’s fortunes.
Padikkal echoed Patidar’s sentiments, saying he feels more confident when batting alongside Kohli. “There’s a lot of hard work that has gone in. Having Kohli at the other end makes things easier for me. Representing my home state and city is such a privilege.” He mentioned that the team is brimming with confidence, but they are also eager to find their groove again, especially since they haven’t had a chance to play well at home yet.
On the other side, Shreyas Iyer, captain of the Punjab Kings, pointed out that while they have been getting off to good starts, they have struggled to convert those opportunities into big scores. He observed that the slow nature of the pitch wasn’t helping their cause. “Most of our batsmen like to go for it from the very first ball, but we need to capitalize better. The pitch is getting slower, and we have to adjust. Too many guys in the middle order need to step up and take charge,” he said.
Iyer shared his personal thoughts on needing to get past the 10-run mark, stating, “I’m in a good mindset; I just need to be able to play freely.” With a break coming up, he mentioned how crucial it is for the team to reassess and get ready for the upcoming matches, focusing not just on strategy but also on their physical condition.
