RCB vs PBKS: "If Someone Gets Out On The 1st Ball, You Can't Even Say If He's In Form Or Not" - Ravi Shastri On Virat Kohli

Ravi Shastri is neither hopeful nor too stressed over Virat Kohli’s form in front of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) essential IPL 2022 contest against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Friday, 13 May. The former Team India head coach said it’s challenging to pass judgment on Kohli’s attitude from first-ball ducks, adding that the right-hander simply has to invest more energy at the wicket.

Virat Kohli has had three first ball ducks this season, 33% of all naughts in his 15-extended IPL career. The most recent, against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), was among the gentlest of all – a basic flick off the cushions off Jagadeesha Suchith directly to the mid-wicket fielder. This took his average and strike rate for the season to a humble 19.64 and 111.34, individually.

Virat Kohli Needs To Spend Some Time At The Crease: Ravi Shastri

Addressing ESPNcricinfo, Shastri said Kohli needs to take as much time as is needed and assuming that he endures the initial few balls, he’ll show his “forceful” symbol. He asserted:

“If someone gets out on the first ball, you can’t even say if he’s in form or not. Virat Kohli would have to think about spending some time at the crease and then we’ll see what happens. I think he’ll play very aggressively if he gets through eight to 10 balls.”

The former cricketer, known for his contagious idealism, saw up-sides in Kohli’s battles as well. He said the group’s seven wins from 12 matches notwithstanding Kohli’s form and Glenn Maxwell not performing totally” were “exceptionally godd signs.” He said the Royal Challengers will turn out to be “extremely dangerous” when the couple return to their best.

Shastri said:

“That’s why I’ve been saying that these are very positive signs for RCB. Kohli and Maxwell haven’t even fired completely yet and in spite of them not playing their best game they have reached 14 points. I think if RCB reach the playoffs they’ll be a very dangerous side because Kohli and Maxwell coming to form is just a matter of time.”

Maxwell has played splendid cameos this season, keeping a strike rate of 167 which is far superior to last season. Nonetheless, dissimilar to 2021, he hasn’t gotten an opportunity to dominate matches for the group with the bat without any help. However, it might be said that he’s compensated for it with the ball, getting four pivotal wickets in seven innings.

Harshal Patel Has Improved A Lot: Ravi Shastri

Talking about Harshal Patel’s season up to this point, Shastri said the pacer didn’t have too many game dominating spells in the first half as new pitches weren’t appropriate to his bowling. The 31-year-old got 32 wickets last year which have boiled down to 14 this year, however Shastri sees “a ton of progress” in his bowling. He argued:

“It’s getting slow so his deliveries are gripping on the surface. Wickets were very hard at the start so the batters had it easy playing his slower ones. Now it will be testing to play big shots against the slower balls.

He has the variety and he bowls in the crucial stages of the match. And, if you see, there’s a lot of improvement in his bowling this year from last year.”

The Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on the Punjab Kings at the Brabourne Stadium, starting at 7:30 pm IST.

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