'Virat Kohli was injured and knock was slow': Ex-KKR star’s bold verdict on batter’s innings vs MI

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has opined that legendary Indian cricketer Virat Kohli's knock in the MI vs RCB game was extremely slow and was concerned with the lack of a proper mindset during the game.

Rajat Patidar has played several spectacular innings in this edition of the IPL. The previous season, his main role was as a captain; however, this season, he has led remarkably with the bat. Patidar scored two consecutive half-centuries in the last two games.

However, his innings have come at a very quick rate as he struck at over 250 in the three games, while he also played a very subtle role in RCB's comeback against the Royals. However, Kohli, on the contrary, has struggled with his strike rate after he reached his second half-century in IPL 2026.

"Virat Kohli actually scored very slow runs." - Aakash Chopra

In the same video, the former Indian batter, Aakash Chopra, went on to reckon that Virat Kohli's knock was very slow, and although it did not cost his team by the end of the game, the target was reduced by a considerable margin due to his poor strike rate.

"Virat Kohli actually scored very slow runs. If you look at it in the context of the match, you feel it doesn't matter as you won, but if you see it from the cricketing lens, it was a very slow knock. This kind of knock is unbecoming of this contest, and neither is it becoming of Virat," Chopra said.

"We saw a very good assault from Phit Salt. I was only saying whether Jacob Bethell could be played. He said, 'Quiet, sir, I am there.' Phil Salt's batting was top-class because a good start was necessary. It was an opening partnership of more than 100 runs. When Phil Salt starts hitting, he doesn't stop," he observed while speaking of the other RCB opener, Phil Salt.

Aakash Chopra showed massive concern about Virat Kohli's injury

Chopra pointed out that the RCB veteran lacked some of the mentality he is widely known for, which was clear in the match against the Mumbai Indians, as he also wasted two reviews due to his wrong calls for a wide delivery.

"He was trying, but it just did not come off. In fact, he was probably so distracted that he wasted two reviews on wide balls. That just told me something about his mindset," he observed.

He then went on to add that Virat Kohli was probably injured as well, as in his entire IPL career, this was the first time that Virat Kohli did not come out to field after having played well with the bat.

"He was injured as well. Maybe that is a bit of an issue because it was the first time I didn't see him come to field. So he was injured and the knock was slow as well," he added.

Aakash announces RCB captain's return to the Indian side

In the same video, Aakash Chopra lauded Rajat Patidar for consistently playing those massive big shots as soon as he arrived on the crease across IPL 2026.

"How well Rajat Patidar is batting. He hit 14 sixes in the entire last year, which is excellent, as he made the team win. However, he has already hit 18 sixes now. He has hit 10 sixes in the first 10 balls he has faced. Only four innings have happened, and he has hit 10 sixes in just the first 10 balls. That acceleration is monstrous," he said.

During the interview, Hardik Pandya, the cricketer-turned-commentator, claimed that Rajat Patidar's ability to play spin so well would give him the upper hand to make his comeback into the Indian side, as they have struggled in that department.

"Who starts like that? This guy does that. There was a time when he used to hit when people bowled spin to him. Now he hits even if fast bowlers bowl. Rajat Patidar is captaining well and batting very well. At some stage, he will make it back to the Indian team," Chopra observed.

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