IPL 2022 | 'He is certainly doing everything that is in his control': Sanjay Bangar

On Saturday, Royal Challengers Bangalore scored only 68 runs while batting first against Sunrisers Hyderabad. And quite unsurprisingly, the target was chased down in 8 overs by SRH, who won the match by 9 wickets.

Virat Kohli hasn't scored a century in more than 100 matches and has been out for golden ducks in back-to-back games. He got out on the first ball in both games, trying to poke an outside off-stump delivery. Hooda took the catch at backward point in the first match, and Markram at the second slip in the second.

Sanjay Bangar, the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head coach, defended the former RCB captain after his second 'golden duck' in the ongoing IPL season. "Virat Kohli is doing everything in his control, but there comes a point in a player's career when fielders take the catches of the first edge," he remarked.

"He (Kohli) has been a consistent performer for the RCB. These kind of rough patches happen in a player's career. He started the season brilliantly, hitting almost match-winning runs in Pune, but then he got a weird run-out, or his first edge landed in the hands of the fielder, "Bangar said.

"He is certainly doing everything that is in his control. He is doing his fitness and skills, taking good breaks and not letting the pressure get to him. He has been taking breaks at regular intervals and will continue to do so going forward," Bangar added.

RCB captain Faf du Plessis called the day a poor one in office but blamed his batters for not being able to face the swinging ball.

Du Plessis said the wicket was good, and the ball swung more than they could see so far in the event.

He praised Sunrisers pacer Marco Jansen's bowling for reducing RCB to 8/3 by the end of the second over.

Abhishek Sharma hit a 28-ball 47 with eight fours and one six in the match, While Kane Williamson was happy to play a sheet anchor role and let Abhishek Sharma attack from the other end.

SRH bowlers Marco Jansen and T Natarajan took three wickets to reduce RCB to 68 runs, laying the path for a convincing victory.