PBKS vs RCB: Faf du Plessis backs Virat Kohli to come good amid poor run – He has taken it in the right note
On Friday, May 13, Virat Kohli got off to an impressive start against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) but got out to Kagiso Rabada.
In Short
- On Friday, RCB lost to PBKS by 54 runs
- RCB will next play GT
- Du Plessis rued RCB’s regular loss of wickets
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Faf du Plessis said that regular fall of wickets didn’t help his team’s attempt to chase down a stiff target of 210 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar and Glenn Maxwell got starts, but failed to capitalise on them as the Challengers lost the match by 54 runs.
Du Plessis reckoned that RCB managed to claw their way back into the game after Jonny Bairstow went hammer and tongs to score 66 off 29 balls with the help of four fours and two sixes.
“It was a good score, obviously Jonny, the way he started put our bowlers under great pressure. I thought we pulled it back a bit. 200 was about par on that wicket, was a brilliant wicket. When you're chasing scores like that, you can't afford to lose wickets in clusters and, unfortunately, that's what happened to us,” du Plessis said.
THE LIGHTER SIDE
Du Plessis also lauded Kohli for looking in good shape in his brief 14-ball knock of 20. After getting off to a promising start, the 33-year-old Kohli got out of fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. The Challengers captain said that Kohli has looked in good spirits of late despite not being among the runs.
“He (Kohli) is seeing the lighter side of it, every single way that you can possibly get out, is happening to him. That's how the game works. All you can do is to keep trying hard, work hard and stay positive. He played some good shots tonight, obviously. Obviously, I would want him to carry on. Bad patches happen to all of us, he's taken it in the right note.
After their seventh loss in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL), RCB are placed fourth in the table. With one match left against the Gujarat Titans (GT), du Plessis understood the importance of a win to qualify for the playoffs.
“Not a great outing for us tonight. I will take a day off and then see how we can switch on for a game that's a must-win one for us. One more net session isn't going to make you a better player, it's about making yourselves stronger in the mind. If we play to our potential, we are a very strong side. Unfortunately, we didn't do that tonight," Du Plessis added.