Royal Challengers Bangalore have been dominant in this season of the competition and a major reason for their success has been their explosive batting line-up. Once again, the great Virat Kohli has stepped up and led the batting line-up.
Having played their first game against Gujarat Titans this season, the defending champions already have the upper hand, having defeated them the last time they met at the Chinnaswamy Stadium this season. However, it seemed clear that Kohli did not want to let this opportunity slip away.
Virat Kohli threatened Prabhsimran Singh’s record with fours off Kagiso Rabada.
Virat Kohli has declared his form since the last game and once again looked in great touch against Gujarat Titans as he hit veteran fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for five consecutive fours in his very first over.
Bowling the second over in the powerplay, Rabada offered little width outside the stumps, and the 9000-run veteran was in no form to miss those freebies. He hit Rabada at different parts of the ground and hit five fours, resulting in 21 runs in his first over.
In the same season, when PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh chased a mammoth target of 265 runs for his team, he hit fours on every ball of his final over of the powerplay, dismissing Mukesh Kumar for 24 runs.
Gets speed
Virat Kohli with 5 consecutive boundaries against Kagiso Rabada
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Kagiso Rabada strikes on comeback; Kohli was dismissed after a shaky start
Some amazing captaincy from Shubman Gill as he supported his most experienced fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for the second consecutive over after not scoring 21 runs in his first over. After scoring so many runs, Rabada also did not look too scared.
He backed himself with a new plan in the second over and the ball turned rapidly towards his body. After missing a ball, he surprised Kohli with a very well-directed bouncer, which also gave him pace.
Kohli, trying to continue the attack, edged it away and the ball went high enough for Rashid Khan to safely sit under it and complete his second catch of the match. Rabada struck and Kohli’s prized wicket fell within the powerplay.
Rabada’s brilliant number against RCB legend in T20
Kagiso Rabada is one of the greatest fast bowlers of the modern generation and has been favored against the greatest of batsmen. He has not failed to trouble even Indian legend Virat Kohli.
In T20s, Rabada has an excellent record against Virat Kohli, having bowled to him on several occasions in the IPL as well as while playing for South Africa. After bowling 79 balls, Kohli scored at an average of 140.
However, Rabada has also dismissed him five times in the shortest format of the game and the great batsman has not allowed his average to go above 22 against him.
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