The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) suffered a 54-runs loss against the Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium on Friday. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has highlighted the tendency of the team to suffer losses by a huge margin in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season.
Following the loss, Bangalore’s Net Run Rate and the chances of qualifying for the playoffs have taken a beating. They are fourth on the points table, with fourteen points from thirteen matches. However, their NRR of -0.323 is a cause of concern for the franchise.
In a video on his Youtube Channel, Aakash Chopra, reflected on Royal Challengers Bangalore’s performance so far and the road ahead for the franchise. He highlighted the qualification scenario, stating that a playoff isn’t guaranteed even if they reach 16 points. Aakash said,
“RCB are still alive but only one match is left, you can only reach 16 points, for that you have to beat Gujarat Titans, and the net run rate is so ordinary that qualification might be hanging in the balance even after 16 points. When they lose, they lose so badly, that it becomes a reason for regret.”
The former cricketer analyzed Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling performance against the Punjab Kings. He stated, “Wanindu Hasaranga was brilliant, Harshal Patel was absolutely sublime – their eight overs went for only 49 runs and there were six wickets. Hazlewood – 64 in four and Siraj – 36 in two, which means 100 runs in six overs of two bowlers.”
Why does this grief not end? – Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli’s poor run in IPL 2022
The former cricketer, Aakash Chopra also spoke about RCB opener Virat Kohli’s unlucky dismissal against the Punjab Kings. The 33-year-old looked in great touch during his stay at the crease. However, he once again failed to convert the start into a big score.
Virat Kohli perished while attempting a pull shot against Kagiso Rabada. He gloved the short ball to Rahul Chahar at short fine, for 20 runs. Speaking about Kohli’s dismissal and form, Aakash said,
“Let us talk about Virat Kohli’s luck, now they say wretched luck. Why does this grief not end? When will runs be scored and will they be scored at all? You have started asking questions like that. He was batting okay, he came like a bullet train, that a different form of Kohli will be seen but it didn’t happen.”
“It is a very bad time for Kohli. But when Kohli is going through a bad time and the same is the case with Faf, and Maxwell plays well for some time and then gets out, how will the movie become superhit if your main protagonists don’t come?” he added.
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