In Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) first home match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, there was a massive security breach as a fan entered the ground to meet Virat Kohli, touched his feet, hugged him and refused to let go till the security intervened and escorted him outside.
The incident happened during the powerplay overs of RCB’s run chase against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Kohli regains form after early reprieve
Kohli opened the innings alongside skipper Faf du Plessis and was dropped by first slip fielder Jonny Bairstow after Sam Curran forced him to play away from the body. After the dropped catch, he hit Curran for four fours in the same over.
When Curran was brought back into the attack in the sixth over, Rahul Chahar almost pulled off a screamer at short midwicket. He was batting on 33 then. The 35-year-old went on to register his 100th fifty-plus score in T20 cricket. He reached the fifty-run mark in 31 balls.
He was more attacking in his approach hitting 11 fours and two sixes in the 49-ball 77. His knock came to an end in the 16th over when he sliced it straight to deep backward point fielder Harpreet Brar.
While Dinesh Karthik and impact player Mahipal Lomror got RCB over the line with an unbeaten 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket, Kohli rued the opportunity to finish the game.
“Wasn't the usual placid pitch. It was a bit two-paced. And I thought I need to play correct cricketing shots. Playing across the line wasn't working. Disappointed I couldn't finish the game. Was in the slot but sliced it to deep point,” he said in the post-match presentation.
Kohli’s approach against Rabada and Arshdeep
Kohli was attacking against Kagiso Rabada as well and instead of playing the cover drive, he danced down the wicket and hit him over covers. Kohli revealed why he did that as well.
“They know I play the cover drive well, so they're not going to allow me to hit gaps. With guys like KG and Arshdeep hitting length, you have to create some momentum with the ball. Once you're closer to the ball, you negate the bounce and meet it earlier. You have to come up with a game plan here and there,” he explained.
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