Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf Du Plessis commended Virat Kohli for his outstanding performance following their victory over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match. Du Plessis emphasized the significance of Kohli’s contribution on the challenging playing surface and highlighted Kohli’s enduring passion for the sport.
In a thrilling encounter at their home ground, the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB clinched a four-wicket win over PBKS. Virat Kohli often hailed as the ‘Chasemaster,’ played a pivotal role in guiding his team to victory, while Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik provided valuable contributions towards the end of the match.
Reflecting on Kohli’s performance, Du Plessis expressed admiration, stating, “Virat was crucial on that pitch. He continues to enjoy the game and remains deeply passionate about cricket. He appeared fresh and motivated to excel.”
Discussing his emotions during the tense run chase, Du Plessis admitted to feeling a degree of nervousness despite maintaining a composed exterior. He acknowledged the importance of securing victory early in the competition and expressed confidence in the team’s ability to achieve the target, especially with the introduction of the new Impact Player rule. Du Plessis also highlighted the power-hitting capabilities of Mahipal Lomror, which added depth to the batting lineup.
Commending Dinesh Karthik for his role in finishing the match, Du Plessis emphasized the significance of Karthik gaining confidence early in the IPL season. He reiterated the importance of Karthik’s contributions to the team’s success.
In the match itself, after being put into bat by RCB, PBKS witnessed their batsmen making decent starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Despite promising innings from Skipper Shikhar Dhawan, Jitesh Sharma, and Sam Curran, PBKS could only manage to post a total of 176/6 in their allotted 20 overs on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy pitch. RCB’s Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell impressed with two wickets each, supported by Yash Dayal and Alzarri Joseph, who claimed one wicket each.
In pursuit of 177 for victory, RCB encountered regular setbacks but relied on Virat Kohli’s resilient innings to keep their chase on track. Kohli’s departure brought about a tense period for RCB, but the late surge from Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror ensured the team secured a thrilling victory with four wickets in hand and four balls to spare. PBKS’s Harpreet Brar and Kagiso Rabada were the standout performers with the ball, claiming two wickets each.
Virat Kohli’s impactful performance earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award, further cementing his reputation as one of the premier players in the IPL.
