IPL 2019 | Great effort to restrict KXIP to 170, says Virat Kohli

Kings XI Punjab had a great start to their innings against RCB at home as they had added more than 60 runs without losing a wicket in the powerplay. With a dangerous KL Rahul and Chris Gayle in the middle, the RCB bowlers pulled things back in control by getting rid of Rahul (18) in the seventh over. Although Gayle continued with his typical style of batting, wickets kept on falling at the other end and that added to the amount of pressure on the opener’s shoulders. Gayle remained unbeaten on 99 but the home team could score only 173 in 20 overs.

Kohli praised his bowlers after the Bengaluru-based team managed to register its first win in the ongoing tournament.

“We thought 190 will be par and to restrict them to 170 was a great effort. To pick up 4 wickets in 8 overs in the middle for 60 runs was an outstanding effort. We knew Chris was going to bat deep. So many opportunities to get dot balls. We knew if we bowled decently to him, we might restrict them,” Kohli said during the presentation ceremony, reported Cricbuzz.

After six defeats on the trot, RCB finally managed to bring the smiles back on the faces of their supporters with a win against Punjab on Saturday. Kohli was thrilled after the win and said that the team was unlucky on a couple of occasions but he feels happy to be on the winning side this time.

“Most pleasing thing is coming for an interview at this time, and not immediately out of the field. Great feeling to get across the line. Have been unlucky in couple of games. Won't say we've been unlucky in every game, but a couple of games we should've closed out before this. After so many setbacks, the guys had desire. That's one word we spoke about,” the RCB skipper explained.