'Lot Of People Think That My T20 Cricket Is Declining...' Virat Kohli After His Century Against GT
Virat Kohli stepped up to the plate when RCB needed him the most (IPLT20.com)
In a clash of monumental proportions against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at Bangalore's M.Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, RCB's star Batter, Virat Kohli showcased his batting brilliance by registering his second consecutive century.
Kohli's scintillating knock of 101 off just 61 deliveries, including an impressive array of 13 boundaries and a six, left spectators in awe.
Reflecting on his performance during the innings break, Kohli revealed his satisfaction with RCB’s recovery and believed that their final total was indeed a competitive score. He acknowledged the responsibility resting on the shoulders of the bowlers to execute their plans effectively.
“We would have taken that with both hands once we were five wickets down through the middle overs with Anuj as the last recognised batsman left. We pretty much pulled things back nicely towards the end. We targeted 190 when we lost five, but getting close to 200 is a very competitive score and a winnable score for me. It's upon the bowlers now to execute the plans and have a crack at them,” said Kohli.
Addressing the notion that his T20 cricket prowess has diminished, the 34-year old confidently dismissed such claims, emphasizing his focus on finding the gaps in the field and unleashing big shots towards the end of his innings. He emphasized the importance of adapting to various situations during a match and expressed his confidence in his current form, asserting that he felt extremely content with his game at present.
“Lot of people think that my T20 cricket is declining, I don't feel like that at all. I think I am playing my best T20 cricket again. I'm just enjoying myself. This is how I play T20 cricket. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I'm batting,” added the Indian talisman.
The former RCB star further acknowledged the challenge of scoring against the spinners on the pitch that offered assistance to the bowlers, highlighting the potential for RCB's bowlers to exploit the conditions.
“Spin wasn't easy to get away. There's enough in this pitch for our bowlers to make a dent through the innings,” concluded Kohli.
Meanwhile, RCB posted an imposing total of 197/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Faf du Plessis and Kohli provided a blistering start to the innings, accumulating 62 runs during the Powerplay without losing any wickets. However, du Plessis departed after contributing 28 runs off 19 deliveries, and the stays of Glenn Maxwell and Mahipal Lomror at the crease were short-lived.
Michael Bracewell showcased promise with a quickfire 26 off 16 balls, but his aggressive intent led to his downfall. It was the 64-run partnership for the final wicket between Kohli and Anuj Rawat (23 off 15 balls) that propelled RCB to the commanding total.
Now, the onus lies squarely on the RCB bowlers to successfully defend their formidable score. A victory in this crucial encounter would secure RCB's passage to the playoffs, while a defeat would result in their elimination from the tournament, paving the way for the Mumbai Indians to advance in their stead.
 "Jatin")
