Virat Kohli lauds Royal Challengers Bangalore’s effort to get back into the game in second innings

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Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli felt the first innings total was not enough. (IPL/InsideSports)

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s wait for their maiden IPL crown continues following their 6-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator. Virat Kohli lamented not having enough runs on the board to defend but appreciated the efforts of the players who managed to drag the game until the final over. 

Sent in to bat first, Virat Kohli and the rest of the batting line-up did not have a good outing in the middle. The opening spell of Sandeep Sharma and Jason Holder followed by the claustrophobic middle over phase bowled by T Natarajan and Rashid Khan. The airtight bowling effort resulted in Royal Challengers Bangalore only putting up 131-7 on the board.

Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli felt the first innings total was not enough. (IPL/InsideSports)

With the total being below par compared to the scores seen in Abu Dhabi, Sunrisers Hyderabad were deemed as strong favourites heading into the run chase. The Virat Kohli led franchise got off to a perfect start by sending both the openers quickly without suffering any significant damage. The spinners were on point in the middle overs as they looked to pounce upon a vulnerable middle-order line-up.

It took a Kane Willaimson classic under pressure for the Orange Army to go through and bring an end to the campaign for the Challengers.

Speaking after their tournament exit, Kohli praised the effort by the team in the second half of the game by taking the game deep with only 2 balls to spare.

“If you talk about the first innings I don’t think we had enough runs on the board. We made one helluva game in the second half, the positions we got ourselves into in the second half,”

Moreover, Kohli added that it has been a difficult phase for the team in the latter stages of the tournament where they suffered 5 losses in a row that sealed their exit.

In the last 2-3 games, we have hit it straight to the fielders, a lot of good shots going to the fielders. It has been a strange kind of phase in the last 4-5 games. 

Virat Kohli singles out the key performers for Royal Challengers Bangalore this season 

The 32-year-old named a few players who were instrumental for the franchise’s qualification for the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

A couple of people have stood and had a good season, Devdutt is one of them and Siraj has had a good comeback. Yuzi has been solid as ever, AB has been solid as ever. Couple of positives for RCB and Devdutt is one of them, he stepped up nicely and getting 400+ runs is not easy. He has played with a lot of class and efficiency for the team. Very happy for him. The others contributed but just not enough.

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