Image Source: BCCI
[Saba Sports News] Virat Kohli delivered a remarkable performance against Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday, showcasing his signature chasing skills in pursuit of PBKS’ 177-run target. While he fell short of finishing the game for Royal Challengers Bangalore, his innings ensured the team steered clear of trouble. Former RCB teammate AB de Villiers remarked on Kohli’s dissatisfaction at not sealing the victory.
Kohli’s aggressive innings against PBKS included 11 boundaries and a six, tallying 77 runs off 49 balls at a strike rate of 157.14. De Villiers praised Kohli’s dedication and commitment during the match, noting the intensity in his eyes. Despite Kohli’s impressive performance, De Villiers acknowledged his disappointment at not completing the chase.
“I saw some signs on the field while they were there in the first half. Just real dedication, commitment, and motivation I could see in his eyes. This guy means business tonight and no one is going to stand in his way,” De Villiers said on Jio Cinema. “Unfortunately, he didn’t finish it at the back end as he would have wanted to. Knowing him, he’ll be analysing tonight in his room. Like, ‘why didn’t I finish that game?’ Very hard on himself? Sometimes. He is just an amazing player. He’s played fantastically well tonight. He kept it together, kept himself in the game, and well played the right shots. He really did. And it wasn’t just big shots,” he added.
The match wasn’t solely about Kohli, as RCB faced a challenging situation after Anuj Rawat’s dismissal. Introducing Mahipal Lomror as the impact substitute proved beneficial, as he and Dinesh Karthik calmly guided the team to victory with some smart batting towards the end of the game. Karthik’s unbeaten 28 runs played a crucial role in securing the win for RCB with four balls to spare.