RCB vs RR: Virat Kohli Must Stay Patient, Avoid Taking Aerial Route: Ravi Shastri

Virat Kohli has had a torrid time with the bat so far in IPL 2022. He has registered two consecutive golden ducks in the last two innings of the season. Overall, in eight matches this season, Kohli has scored 119 runs at 17, striking at 122.68. with a best of 48.

Heading into their next game against Rajasthan Royals, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has special advice for Virat Kohli. Previewing the RCB vs RR game for ESPN Cricinfo, Shastri said that the former RCB skipper needs to be patient with his batting approach.

Virat Kohli Has Scored 119 Runs From 8 Matches So Far In IPL 2022

“Virat Kohli is due a big score and he must stay patient at the start, play grounded shots, avoid taking the aerial route for the first 8-10 runs. If he regains his rhythm, the runs will start coming. I have no doubt that the runs will start flowing. But he has to give it time,” said Shastri.

Ravi Shastri further highlighted the batting issues for RCB. He said that the top-order needs to fire for the RCB to ease the pressure on their middle-order and the bowling attack.

“They do have issues as far as batting is concerned. It’s crucial their top order fires because their bowling unit and the middle-order is bailing them out, which has Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed. If they want to go the distance, their top-order has to step up. To reach the playoffs and lift the trophy, their top-order must fire and they will,” he added.

Ravi Shastri further said Jos Buttler is in sensational form while adding that the ‘law of averages’ will play its part sooner rather than later. Buttler is the top-scoter in the season with 491 runs from seven games so far. He has hit to back to back centuries in the last two games, the last one was against KKR. He has already scored three tons this season so far.

“If we look at Rajasthan Royals, Buttler’s form has been sensational. Royal Challengers must think that by the law of averages, he will fail at some point. Even then, the likes of Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer must continue to pile on the runs. Royal Challengers might have won the last five games against Rajasthan, but this will be a different challenge,” Shastri concluded saying.

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