Royal Challengers Bangalore once again lost points in a crucial game against Sunrisers Hyderabad to keep their chances of making it to the IPL 2020 playoffs hang by the wire. Virat Kohli & his boys failed to deliver with the bat making things simpler for Hyderabad, who pocketed two crucial points.
It was a cakewalk for the Sunrisers. Although they lost David Warner early, but Wriddhiman Saha carried on his good form to give his side a good platform. He shared small partnerships with Manish Pandey and Kane Williamson to carry the run chase.
Virat Kohli & Co tried to bounce back but Jason Holder played a couple of big heaves to seal the tie with 35 balls to spare.
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Earlier in the day, Sandeep Sharma got Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli early to stun the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sunrisers Hyderabad operated with courage post that knowing RCB’s weak middle-order. Rashid Khan made batsmen dance to his tunes.
We didn’t predict the dew – Virat Kohli
AB de Villiers and Josh Philippe actually had a good partnership but both went in quick succession putting Virat Kohli & Co under pressure. Washington Sundar was batting sensibly but none of his teammates that followed could connect on this sluggish surface. Natarajan squeezed them with yorkers ton as Bangalore could only manage 120 runs which was not enough for the bowlers.
Speaking at the end of the game, Virat Kohli admitted that they didn’t take the dew factor into consideration. He also added that the second innings changed drastically in the last couple of days. The RCB skipper also backed his bowlers saying that it was difficult to hold the ball in the second half.
“It was never enough. We thought 140 might be a good total to sort of get into the game on that kind of wicket. Things changed drastically in the second innings. There was a lot of dew which we didn’t quite predict, they got it right at the toss eventually. In the end it was very difficult to hold the ball. Strange one. In between, we thought the weather has become pleasant and there wasn’t any dew, but last few games in Dubai and here as well there has been dew,” Virat Kohli said.
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Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bangalore lock horns with Delhi Capitals in their last encounter. Both teams will want to secure the crucial two points having tied at 14. Speaking on playing against Delhi, Virat Kohli categorically mentioned that he has been a Bangalore when it comes to playing in the IPL and will give his all to finish in the top two.
“It is a competitive tournament and you can’t take any games lightly or any teams for granted, the situation is in front of us – we have to win our last game to hopefully finish in the top two. It also gives teams a chance to make a comeback. Having said that it makes you aware of your downfalls as a team and things that you need to correct going forward. It is going to be a cracker of a game with both teams locked in at 14 points. I have always been a Bangalore boy in the IPL never sort of drifted towards Delhi,” Virat Kohli concluded.