NZ vs AUS | 1st T20I: All RCB players disappoint

New Zealand defeated Australia by 53 runs in the first game of the five-match T20I series. All eyes were at the big buys from Australia and New Zealand who were specially bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Out of the 22 players on the field, five players will most probably part of the RCB playing XI. However, all of them failed in this game. 

When New Zealand was put to bat first at the Hagley Oval, RCB men in Adama Zampa, Daniel Sams and Glenn Maxwell couldn’t do much with the ball. While Zampa was economical in the sense that he gave away just 20 runs in three overs, but couldn’t pick any wicket. Sams did pick two wickets but was on the expensive side as he was taken for forty runs in his four overs. 

While batting both Glen Maxwell (bought for 14.25 crore rupees) and Josh Philippe (retained) couldn’t even get to double-digit. While Philippe was removed by Boult just for two runs, Maxwell was caught at the slip on a Tim Southee outswinger for a solitary run. In bowling too, Maxwell bowled just one over and gave away nine runs. 

The only other player from RCB involved on the New Zealand side was Kyle Jamieson. Even he was not at his usual best, giving away 32 runs in just three overs and picking just one wicket. 

Devon Conway, who went unsold in the IPL Mini Auction at a base price of 50 Lakh rupees slammed unbeaten 99 in 59 balls with 10 fours and three sixes to take the New Zealand total to 184-5 in 20 overs. Australia bundled out for 131 as Ish Sodhi, another unsold player at the auction picked up four wickets.

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Kohli is charged up while batting & fielding but is down-to-earth: Sarandeep Singh

Former India cricketer Sarandeep Singh has praised skipper Virat Kohli and has said that the flamboyant batsman is only aggressive on the field while is pretty “down to earth” when he is off it. "If you see him in the matches, he's always charged up while batting and fielding. So it seems like he's always hot and arrogant, and doesn't listen to anyone. But no, he's as down-to-earth as he seems aggressive on the field,” he said. "In selection meetings, he was so polite. He always used to listen to everyone and then finally come to a decision." Sarandeep also said that Virat has got no servants at his home and it is him or his wife who do all the work when they have guests at their place. "At his home, there are no servants. He and his wife will serve food to everyone. What else do you want? Virat always sits with you, chats with you, and goes out for dinner with you." "All the other players have so much respect for him. He's very down-to-earth and strong-willed," he further said. "On the field, he needs to be that way because he's the captain. He's the one who'll handle the pressure on the ground and make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he added. Kohli is presently with the Indian team for the on-going Test series against England. The four-match Test series is leveled at 1-1 with the last two matches scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad. The third match begins from February 24 which would be a Day-night encounter.