IPL: Virat Kohli elated after RCB register ‘unbelievable’ win over DC
After registering a seven-goal victory over table leaders Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said winning the chase would give his team confidence in the 2021 IPL playoffs.
A last-ball six by KS Bharat helped Royal Challengers Bangalore register a seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in a thrilling finish to their Indian Premier League match. Bharat played a match-winning knock of 78 runs while Glenn Maxwell raced away to 51 in 33 deliveries as RCB chased down the 165-run target in Dubai.
Kohli pointed out that RCB had nothing to lose and despite losing early wickets, his team managed to complete the season double over the table-toppers DC on Friday.
“Unbelievable. It was a game we had nothing to lose but still to lose early wickets and do well against a team at the top of the table is good,” Virat Kohli, the winning captain, said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
“We’ve beaten them twice this season. We knew bowlers had the potential to keep things under control. The way AB and KS first batted was good.
Kohli was full of praise for Bharat and Maxwell who stitched a match-winning 111-run fourth-wicket partnership to give RCB a rather unexpected win over Delhi Capitals, who finished on top of the league standings despite the loss in the final game.
“And then the partnership between Maxi and KS was amazing. We knew the reality of getting second was a 163-run win, so we chose to field first. Pulling off a chase gives you a different kind of confidence going into a playoff.
“And we haven’t chased much in the tournament, so it’s also important to do well batting second. You should be able to pull out anything you need on the day of the game. No. 3 hasn’t been an issue at all,” Kohli added.
“We wanted to give Christian some time with the bat. He batted very well in the nets, but that’s how T20 cricket goes. We took that chance. It didn’t come off, but we had no issues.
“Bharat has given some good knocks and we knew he can step in at No. 3, bat well against spin too. I definitely think we need to be sharper in the field. We need to take the 50-50 opportunities in our way.
“Those runs are crucial in big games. When it comes to the playoffs, no team will give you a second chance,” Kohli signed off.
