In a bittersweet performance, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) superstar batter Virat Kohli smashed his eighth IPL century against Rajasthan Royals few days back in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 clash. However, Kohli's knock of 113 off 72 balls, which was the joint-slowest century in IPL history beside Manish Pandey, couldn't save Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The rest of the batting lineup faltered, managing only 59 runs off 48 balls. This resulted in a meagre total of 183 runs for 3 wickets in their 20 overs. Unfortunately, Rajasthan Royals chased down the target comfortably, leaving Kohli's valiant effort overshadowed by the team's overall failure. This slow knock, despite being a century, also attracted criticism online, with some trolling Kohli's batting approach.
Virat Kohli stands out as sole performer for RCB
At present, though many RCB fans continue to support Kohli, a portion of the fanbase is becoming disenchanted with the team. The bowling squad of RCB is seen as the least formidable in the entire IPL. Apart from Virat Kohli, significant players such as captain Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green have not been performing well with the bat. Consequently, RCB is facing difficulties, with four losses in five games. In the midst of these issues, Navjot Singh Sidhu, a renowned figure in commentary, offered important observations on Virat Kohli's performance and shared his opinions about the RCB team during an exclusive conversation with Sports Tak.
Why RCB Needs More Than Just Kohli? Navjot Singh Sidhu reveals
Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is doing commentary in the ongoing IPL 2024, made it very clear that RCB can't win title riding on the one-man show of Virat Kohli, rather they will have to put on a collective effort to end their title drought in IPL.
“The argument is that Virat Kohli is a lone warriors but his strong individual performances aren't enough for RCB's success. Teams like Rajasthan Royals show the power of a balanced squad, where multiple batsmen and bowlers are firing. Cricket is a team sport, and legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar haven't won solely on their own. RCB's lack of depth, especially with spin bowling after Hasaranga's departure, is a major concern. The team's auction strategy is being questioned, with doubts about acquiring the right players. Additionally, while RCB has big hitters, they seem to lack players who consistently take ownership of the match,” he told Sport Tak.
Sidhu also lambasted RCB skipper Faf Du Plessis for his underwhelming show in the IPL 2024 so far. Du Plessis has managed to score just 109 runs in a total of five matches.
“Faf du Plessis isn't making an impact as a captain, struggling to rack up runs. A captain's strong performance is vital in the IPL, yet presently, no RCB player is managing to put up a show baring Virat Kohli”.
Despite their immense popularity, the star-studded RCB haven't been able to translate that into an IPL title. They've come heartbreakingly close three times, reaching the finals in 2009, 2011, and 2016, but haven't been able to taste the glory as yet. Talking about their performance in the ongoing season, RCB have won just one match out of five they have played so far to sit ninth in the IPL 2024's points table.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, Star Sports Commentator
(Interaction facilitated by Star Sports, IPL official TV broadcaster with Hindi Commentator and Cricket Expert, Navjot Singh Sidhu)
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