RCB vs DC: "Virat Kohli was very lucky.."- Harbhajan Singh's scathing assessment

Former Indian spinner and commentator Harbhajan Singh was impressed with Virat Kohli's explosive innings during the IPL 2024 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday, May 9, at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.

Kohli's blazing knock of 92 runs off just 47 deliveries studded with seven boundaries and six maximums guided the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a commanding 60-run victory over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 58th match of the ongoing IPL 2024 in Dharamsala.

Batting with fierce intent, Kohli showcased his batting prowess by striking at an exceptional rate of 195.74, laying the foundation for RCB's formidable total of 242 runs after being invited to bat first by the hosts PBKS in Dharamshala.

Harbhajan Singh impressed by Virat Kohli's relentless intent vs PBKS

The former RCB skipper’s aggressive approach set the tone for the tourists, leaving the PBKS bowlers struggling to contain his onslaught. After the match, the World Cup-winning spinner hailed Virat Kohli for capitalizing on the missed opportunities by the PBKS and exhibiting relentless intent throughout his match-winning knock.

The former Indian skipper was dropped twice when he was on 0 and 10 by Ashutosh Sharma and Rilee Rossow in the thrilling IPL 2024 encounter on Thursday. Kohli's stellar performance has not only kept RCB's IPL 2024 Playoff dreams alive but also showed his ability to adapt to the demands of T20 cricket.

With his aggressive yet calculated approach, Kohli's innings silenced his critics over his strike rate and earned praise from the fans and cricket experts, including Harbhajan. He was really happy to see the way Virat was crafting his shots.

Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports: “He was very lucky. He was dropped on zero and it proved so expensive. If you repeatedly give chances to such a player, he won't spare you. What a knock it was - 92 runs off 47 balls. He played the T20 format in the true sense today."

"It was destructive batting. He already had the Orange Cap and his strike rate this season has been much better than earlier and today he gladdened our hearts. He showed how the intent can be maintained after the powerplay. He manufactured every shot. It was enjoyable to watch him bat.”

Harbhajan Singh in awe of Virat Kohli's classical shots 

Harbhajan further lauded Kohli for scoring at a brisk pace against the PBKS, saying the RCB star proved his ability to maintain a high scoring rate, which is a must in this fast-paced format of the game. He also praised his former India teammates for the quality of his shots that he played against the PBKS in Dharamshala.

The commentator admitted that the SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma are at a different level, scoring three runs per ball, but what stood out about Kohli's innings was his ability to play conventional cricket shots with accuracy.

Harbhajan mentioned that Kohli adapted to the conditions by using his feet effectively, especially when the pace of the ball was slower, as well as playing big shots against the spinners while staying in position.

He was impressed with Kohli's calculated approach to targeting the midwicket area and executing well-timed slog sweeps for sixes, saying his batting was completely enjoyable for him.