After a thumping start to IPL 2020, Royal Challengers Bangalore stumbled against Kings XI Punjab at the Dubai International Stadium. Speaking at the end of the game, Virat Kohli said that they had shelled 30-40 runs extra which cost Bangalore the game.
Chasing the massive total, Royal Challengers Bangalore never looked on course. They lost wickets at regular intervals and never really managed to arrest the batting collapse. Sheldon Cottrell and Mohammed Shami were spot-on with the new ball as Punjab reduced them to four for three.
AB de Villiers tried once again to take back charge to the opposition but lacked support. With the run-rate cropping up, wickets tumbled on as leg-spinners – Ravi Bishnoi and Murugan Ashwin chipped in with three wickets each. Bangalore finally managed to score 117 runs; thus, falling short by 97 runs.
Also read: Watch – Virat Kohli Drops Two Catches As KL Rahul Scores A Century
Batting first, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal were off to a steady start without taking too much risk. The measured risk was because of the collapse in the last match. But as the innings ticked the 10-over mark, Rahul put on the fifth gear mark hitting everything at his disposal.
During another emphatic knock, Virat Kohli gave a couple of respite to KL Rahul dropping two sitters in the 16th and 17th over respectively. It was unlikely of Kohli, who is one of the best fielders of the game at present.
Need to accept them and move on – Virat Kohli
The miss proved to be costly as KL Rahul made the most of the opportunity. He finished at an unbeaten 132 from 69 deliveries including seven sixes and 14 boundaries as Kings XI Punjab posted 206 runs in their 20 overs. This is also the highest ever score by a captain in the history of IPL.
Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Virat Kohli took the responsibility of the defeat. He also said that they had given 30-40 runs extra which was determining factor in the game.
“I think we were pretty good in the middle phase with the ball. I have to stand in front and take the brunt of it. Coz about 30-40 runs. If we’d restricted them at 180 we wouldn’t have felt pressure to go from ball one. There are days when you have this kind of things happen. Just have to accept them,” Kohli said.
Speaking about the dropped chances, Virat Kohli said there are days when this kind of things happen. Meanwhile, the dropped sitters took a toll on RCB as KL Rahul murdered the bowling collecting 76 runs off the last four overs.
“I have to stand in front and take the brunt of it, not the best day in the office, couple of important chances of KL when he was set. We know exactly where we went wrong and I have to put my hand up and say couple of important chances went down,” he added.
