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Royal Challengers Bengaluru were put into bat first in the 14-over match after a delayed start because of rain.
Virat Kohli scored just one run off three deliveries against PBKS (Picture credit: AP)
Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has said that the shot that Virat Kohli hit was very unlikely for him and would have suited the situation if the match had been reduced to six overs, but with 14 overs in hand, Kohli should have taken it slowly before going for the big shots.
Kohli departed after scoring just one run off three balls, before being dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the third over of the innings.
Kaif said that Kohli could have afforded to take some time to settle down and read the pitch before going the aggressive way.
“84 deliveries in an innings means that there is time. The shot that Virat Kohli hit, stepping forward, trying to strike a six, he usually does not do all of this. If it were a 20-over game, Kohli would have looked to punch that ball, I can tell you that with guarantee,” Kaif said while speaking on Star Sports.
“That was a ball meant to be punched through the point. But because it was a 14-over game, there was the temptation to play a much more attacking brand of cricket. The pitch was damp, the ball was stopping a bit,” Kaif said.
“Not only Kohli, but the other batters as well. So, he should have spent some time in the middle, 14 overs is a lot, he must have thought it was a six-over game,” Kaif added.
A lot of Bengaluru batters perished while trying to go for the big shots. They were reeling at 46/8 at one stage, before Tim David held the team and took them to 95/9 by the end of the 14 overs.
Kohli didn’t last long, as Marco Jansen peddled 20 metres back to pull off a terrific catch off Arshdeep.
RCB play their next game against the Punjab Kings on Sunday, April 20 at the latter’s home.
