Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli praised AB de Villiers for his team’s huge 82-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday. In a field where most hitters, including Kohli, found it difficult to get going, De Villiers’ undefeated 33-ball 73 turned the momentum completely, helping them post a formidable 194/2 total in their 20 overs. . De Villiers and Kohli stitched an undefeated 100-run partnership for the third wicket, with 83 of them in the final five overs. Kohli could only score one limit on his 33 of 28 balls, while De Villiers broke sixes for fun from the other end, scoring 11 limits, including six hits over the fence. Kohli admitted that everyone but one “superhuman” had trouble scoring runs on that pitch, as the ball didn’t hit the bat well.
“At launch, the field did not have the usual brightness of Sharjah. I knew that the wicket would get slower and slower. Except for one superhuman, everyone fought on that field,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
Kohli said they were looking at a total in the region of 165-170, but they got a lot more than that just from one man’s “special hit”.
“It was amazing. I thought I had some balls under my belt, so I’ll start hitting. But he came in and hit his third ball really well. On a pitch like that, only AB can do that. It was a special hit. We got 195 ( 194 actually) simply because of the genius of that man, “said the RCB captain, praising De Villiers.
Speaking about the positives of the game, Kohli said: “They (KKR) have played good cricket at this IPL. Coming here, it was important to start well. It’s great to see individuals step up when the team calls for it. Bowling unit, with Morris coming in, looks even more powerful. Very happy. “
This was RCB’s fifth win in seven games and they moved up to third place on the points table. This huge victory also helped them improve their net running rate, which had taken a heavy beating after a 97-run loss to Kings XI Punjab.
RCB has been one of the underperformers in IPL history despite firepower, but things seem to have turned this year, with Virat Kohli and company gaining confidence with every passing game.
Kohli said that this year they have a “clarity of plans” and the players know what to do on the field. While his team is on an upward trend, he cautioned players not to indulge, as there is always room for improvement.
Promoted
“The preparation was really good. The three-week camp helped us. Having clear plans. Knowing exactly what we want to do on the field. It all depends on the mindset. It is very positive. If your bowling unit is strong, you have a great opportunity to deepen the tournament. Always things you can reflect on and say that you can improve on these things. All about pushing this momentum forward.
RCB will have a chance to avenge the massive loss they faced earlier this season when they face Kings XI Punjab in their next league game on October 15 in Sharjah.
Topics mentioned in this article
.
