IPL 2019 | Situation very bad, but can be turned around, says Virat Kohli

The match between Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bangalore was a crucial one for both the teams, as they were yet to win a match in this edition of the Indian Premier League. Fans of both the sides hoped that their teams would score their first two points, after the three consecutive losses.

It was another bad day for the RCB as they were beaten by seven wickets, with one ball to spare. However, the team’s performance was not as dismal as it was against Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. They managed a decent total of 158 on a tough wicket, the usual culprit Yuzvendra Chahal looked excellent and scalped two wickets while giving away 17 runs, even Mohammed Siraj bowled well and scalped one wicket for 25 runs. 

“The team hasn’t gone off to a good start, and these things look really bad. But we have to keep believing that we can turn things around. We played well in Mumbai and tonight, but we need to improve. We need to take some confidence from tonight’s game though.” said Kohli, at the post match press, reported PTI.

The Royal Challengers started well with the bat, as the opening pair of skipper Kohli and Parthiv Patel had scored 48 runs at the end of the first powerplay. But it was a googly from Shreyas Gopal, which the skipper could not read, and was bowled in the very next over after the powerplay. The Karnataka leg spinner followed it up with AB de Villiers dismissal in his next over, and then dismissed Shimron Hetmyer in the next. 

Parthiv was striking the ball well, as he reached his fastest fifty in 29 balls, but was dismissed for 67 off 37 deliveries by Jofra Archer in the 18th over. Marcus Stoinis held on to his wicket, but struggled to strike the ball. It was a last over flourish of 17 runs by Moeen Ali and Stoinis himself which took RCB to a competitive total.

“Today, we were more competitive. but we were 15-20 short with the bat. I thought 160 was competitive, but with the dew factor, 15 runs more would’ve been more challenging,” added the 30 year old.

Nevertheless, it was the Bengaluru based franchise’s sloppy fielding which let them down today, as Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Rahul Tripathi were all given a reprieve. Barring Jos Buttler, the RR batsmen did not bat very sensibly as they gave the opponent chances at regular intervals, but the fielders failed to capitalise. 

“It was not easy to get the boundaries in the second innings but if we make that many mistakes (dropped catches), then we will fall on the losing side. In a tournament like IPL, when you have no momentum, then these things can happen,” concluded the skipper.

Leg spinner Chahal hinted at some changes in the playing XI, hoping that a change in the combination may bring a change in their fortunes.

“The tournament isn’t so long, so you need to think on your feet on what the best XIs are. We will sit down and talk to see how we can balance our team and allow our players to create some match-winning performances.” said Chahal

Chahal scalped two wickets in another losing cause, but that took his tally of wickets to 8, thereby, making him the highest wicket taker in the cash rich league, at the moment. The India spinner implied that leg spinners are at a greater advantage of taking wickets in the format.

“It’s a great feeling to have the highest wickets in the tournament, but we didn’t win the match. Leg-spinners have so much variations compared to other bowlers, and we can get a bit more turn even on flat wickets. I created a bit of doubt on the batsman’s mind,“ the former Chess player stated.

“Our fourth loss in a row, but we have 10 games, and we have a chance of coming back. If we think negative, then no point playing. So we need to be positive,” added the 28 year old.

RCB will next on the in form Kolkata Knight Riders, at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 5.