Former Indian off-spinner R Ashwin praised Virat Kohli For his innings against Gujarat Titans despite Royal Challengers Bangalore's final defeat.
A decisive moment in the game came when Kohli scored 21 runs in the second over of the match. The charismatic batsman hit five consecutive fours in the first over of Kagiso Rabada. Ashwin pointed out how Kohli was able to hit through point off the front foot, something he doesn't do often.
“He hit fours on both sides of point. That was my favorite because Virat doesn't hit with the front foot there. He opened the bat while hitting,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
RabadaHowever, he had the last laugh as he dismissed Kohli on a short-pitched ball in the next over, leading to RCB's collapse. Jason Holder took 2/29 from his four overs and won the Player of the Match award. Ashwin said that despite Holder's spell, Kohli's wicket was the turning point in the game.
“The way Rabada came back, used the angle and got the height on the bouncers, it completely changed the game. Holder's spell was also a match-changer, but that particular wicket completely changed the game,” he said.
Ashwin also said that while bowling to Virat Kohli, the bowlers are always on the back foot, the psychological advantage of which he takes in his favor.
He said, “Virat has been playing for so many years. Obviously, a lot of bowlers go on the backfoot against him, even those who have played with him. Virat Kohli also knows this. The game is more about brains than skill and Virat is a little ahead of him in that.”
RCB was out for 155 runs in its innings. While chasing the target, Titans made a great start with the help of captain Shubman Gill's inning of 43 runs in 18 balls. Jos Buttler played an inning of 39 runs in 19 balls as the Titans got lost in the chase losing regular wickets. But they reached the total with four wickets remaining, with Rahul Tewatia remaining unbeaten on 27 runs.
Get every cricket update! Follow us: :
Leave a Reply