Virat Kohli on RCB's batting collapse: Shocking, our worst, very hurtful
BCCI
Skipper Virat Kohli was disappointed at RCB’s reckless batting yesterday and described the collapse as 'shocking and hurtful'. No one reached double digits in the match against KKR and was bundled out for 49 - the lowest team total in the 10-year history of the Indian Premier League.
From being touted as the best batting lineup in the tournament to being bowled out for the lowest ever IPL total, RCB’s batting has come a full circle. Chasing a modest target of 132, the visitors succumbed to accurate bowling by KKR pacers.
"Probably our worst batting performance, if not the worst of all time in IPL. Very hurtful for me to stand here and talk. I thought we could capitalize and chase the score down," a visibly shocked Kohli told a post-match presentation ceremony.
"I can't really say anything now because it was that bad. As professional cricketers, we are expected to do much better. Our performance was unacceptable. Disgraceful batting, reckless from us, one of the worst collapses ever."
Kohli’s wicket on the third ball of the run chase triggered a collapse as KKR pacers Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Woakes, Colin de Grandhomme and Umesh Yadav skittled out RCB in just 9.4 overs. Kohli was unhappy at his dismissal.
“The sight-screen is quite small here, and one guy got up just as the bowler (Coulter-Nile) was loading up which distracted me,” explained Kohli. “But still, it wasn’t a big deal, that was just one down. Nine other guys could have done the job. There is nothing to review (from this match), we need to forget this night and move on.
“There were positives in the first half, but we have nothing to talk about from the second innings. We know we are a better batting unit than this, we scored 200-plus in the last game, so this was shocking for everyone. Everyone knows what went wrong, and they will have to come back and do things a lot better.
"There's nothing to review. We've got to take the positives from the first half, nothing to talk about in the second innings, it was that bad honestly. There's no point holding on to such a performance. We are a much better team than this, we scored 200-plus in the last game, but this was shocking for everyone.
“We are heading home now for back-to-back games (against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Lions) after being on the road for a while, with very few breaks in between,” said Kohli. “We need to put in a better performance and try and win them and get some momentum."
