RCB director Mo Babat praised Virat Kohli for his pivotal role in the team’s turnaround during the second half of IPL 2024, guiding them from the bottom to the playoffs and winning his second Orange Cap.
RCB, like several other teams, had to undergo a drastic shift in strategy midway through the tournament to stay competitive. Teams such as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) set the pace with their aggressive batting styles, consistently posting huge scores.
In the first half of the league, RCB only crossed the 200-run mark once, during the historic high-scoring match against SRH. However, they turned things around in the second half, increasing their intent and crossing the 200-run mark four times, making a strong comeback.
Mo Babat pointed out how Kohli was ready to take charge and aggressively challenge the bowling attack right from the start, setting the pace and foundation for the team.
“Virat scored runs throughout the competition, even in that initial period when we weren’t getting results. But even he, midway through, said, “Right, I’m going to lead the way here, we can all be more aggressive.”
“It was brilliant to see him talk that through with the rest of the batting group and back his words up with action. I’ve got no doubt that he’ll want to maintain that moving forward,” Mo Babat said in an interview with ESPN Cricinfo.
“Won’t send the team out with someone aiming to play defensively”- RCB Director of Cricket Mo Babat
The revamped, aggressive T20 strategy has inspired franchises to build squads reflecting this approach for the 2025 IPL mega auction. After a daring retention strategy, RCB caused a stir by opting not to re-sign Mohammed Siraj, Glenn Maxwell, or Will Jacks.
Instead, RCB added players such as Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone, and Jitesh Sharma to strengthen their batting. With key players like Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar remaining, the franchise aims to attack relentlessly for all 20 overs.
“I certainly won’t be, and Andy certainly won’t be, sending the team out with somebody having the intent to drop anchor. That isn’t what’s required. We want to make the most of every delivery. Players can be trusted to assess the situation, the conditions out there, and Virat will be no different to anybody else,” Mo Babat added.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
