In a thrilling contest on Thursday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finally ended their home woes with a hard-fought 11-run victory over Rajasthan Royals at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This win halted RCB’s three-match losing streak at home and brought much-needed joy to their fans. Virat Kohli, once again the star with the bat, scored an impressive 70 off 42 deliveries, but his post-match comments about the team’s home struggles had fans laughing.
Virat Kohli’s Humorous Remark on Bengaluru’s Challenges
After the match, Kohli gave a cheeky response when asked about the challenges he faces as an opening batter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. “The first challenge is winning the toss,” Kohli said with a chuckle. He added, “In the second half, there is always dew. We’ve struggled to put on a par score.” His comments were delivered with humor but also reflected the frustration RCB has faced at home, having lost the toss in all four of their home games this season.
RCB’s previously perfect away record had made their home slump even more puzzling. However, Kohli’s comments and the win were a sign of relief for the team, especially after a series of poor performances in Bengaluru.
A Strong Batting Foundation
RCB was asked to bat first once again, and Kohli, along with his opening partner Devdutt Padikkal, laid the foundation with a solid 95-run partnership for the second wicket. Kohli’s fluent 70 and Padikkal’s explosive 50 off 27 balls provided the platform RCB had sorely missed in previous home matches. Their efforts helped RCB set a challenging total of 205/5.
“We had three average games at home, and we discussed what we needed to get right as a batting unit. We applied ourselves well,” Kohli explained, reflecting on their earlier defeats. Despite dew making the ball come onto the bat nicely, Kohli acknowledged the challenging pitch conditions that made the score seem higher than the reality.
Josh Hazlewood’s Brilliance Turns the Match
With Rajasthan Royals cruising at 110/2, it took a brilliant bowling display from Josh Hazlewood, who claimed 4/33, to bring RCB back into the game. His remarkable penultimate over turned the tide in RCB’s favor, and they eventually defended the target successfully.
RCB’s Renewed Approach
Kohli also shed light on RCB’s revamped approach, saying, “The template is now pretty simple, for one guy to bat through and the others to attack around him. Devdutt and I know this ground well. We just wanted to let Salt do his thing at the top.” The change in mindset helped RCB set a competitive total and defend it effectively.
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