IPL 2022 | Gavaskar claims that fifty against GT was confidence-booster for Kohli

Virat Kohli, who has scored a fifty on Saturday, has stepped on the track with a fine knock against Gujarat Titans. However, his 53-ball 58 was not enough as Royal Challengers Bangalore lost the contest despite posting 170 on the board. 

After watching the Chasemaster break the shackles, Sunil Gavaskar said that Kohli finding his spell back is good news for RCB, who are at a crucial stage in the campaign, having won 5 and lost 5 so far. 

“It was a knock that he needed; it was a knock that RCB wanted as well. Once you get going and get a fifty, it augurs well for the remaining matches as well. Your main man is hitting the ball cleanly; the feet are moving into position quite nicely. It’s a confidence-building innings. Definitely, as far as the RCB is concerned, they will be very, very happy,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

Despite starting the tournament on a high, Kohli had been struggling to put his bat to the ball of late. Coming into the game against the table-toppers, India’s most celebrated was under the heat as he registered two consecutive golden ducks. However, the former captain depicted a back to form performance.

Although he started his innings with some eye-pleasing strokes, the 33-year old could not maintain his trademark tempo throughout the play. He was overshadowed by Rajat Patidar, who hit a quickfire 52 as the pair added 99 runs for the second wicket.

Kohli’s fifty did not prove good enough for RCB, who lost the match by 7 wickets. Gujarat rode on cameos from Rahul Tewatia and David Miller to gun down the target with three balls to spare.

The former cricketer showered highly appreciative comments for Patidar, calling that he has proven himself reasonably under the RCB team.

“To be perfectly honest, at the start of the match, he would be slotted in at No. 3 because he hasn’t had that much experience. On the other hand, Shahbaz has been in good form, and he is a left-hander. But Rajat Patidar was outstanding, absolutely top-class. He justified the RCB team management’s tactics,” said the 72-year old batting maestro.

The loss against Hardik Pandya’s Titans was Bangalore’s third successive one. They will face the MS Dhoni-led Chennai on May 4, where they can’t afford further slip-ups.