Same old failings, same old scrappy performance with the ball and poor fielding where the Royal Challengers Bangalore dominated with the bat, yet somehow invited another defeat in the 11th edition of the Indian Premier League encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Another dazzling show by skipper Virat Kohli helped the hosts storm to 175/4 in the designated 20 overs. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 68 off 44 balls, lacing up his innings 3 maximums and 5 touching the boundary rope.
But, it was the skimpy bowling effort and pathetic fielding that left the 2016 runner-up in shambles, handing them their 5th defeat in 7 games.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore need to win six of the remaining seven to keep their playoff hopes alive and they will have to at their best in all departments and to build momentum, skipper Virat Kohli demonstrated how it is done.
In the 19th over when Kolkata were 5 runs away from victory, KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik mistimed Mohammed Siraj’s delivery as he lofted it straight down. Virat Kohli, who was stationed at his preferred long on position, sprinted all the way towards his left to the centre and took a leap in the air to complete a sensational catch.
Though his effort could not change the result of the match, his team-mates will draw some inspiration when they face Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru on May 1.
Virat Kohli’s effort was enough to send the crowd at the picturesque Chinnaswamy on their toes and his wife Anushka Sharma was more than impressed see her better half grab a screamer.