Virat Kohli is a problem for RCB? Tom Moody reveals the actual issue behind RCB's failure in IPL 2024

Former Australia cricketer and 2016-IPL winning head coach with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Tom Moody had a harsh choice of words for RCB batters who did not support Virat Kohli. The Indian batting stalwart acted like the last man standing for the South-Indian franchise in the 1st innings last night against Kolkata Knight Riders. He did not find the support of other batters from the team and Moody was critical about that.

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show after KKR registered their 2nd consecutive victory of the season by 7-wickets, Tom Moody made this claim. The former SRH coach bashed all the RCB batters except countryman Cameron Green for not matching the intensity and complimenting Virat Kohli from the other end.

With his comments, Moody targetted skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar, and Anuj Rawat for their underwhelming performances and for the way they got out.

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Virat Kohli, who played at a strike rate of 140 throughout last night, watched the entire top and middle order collapse cheaply like a house of cards. The only one who could match Kohli’s strike rate or intensity was Cameron Green, who at the time of departure, had a 150+ striking rate.

Tom Moody says RCB could have scored 200+ if anyone had supported Virat Kohli from the other end

When asked to reflect on RCB’s outing with the bat, Moody stated that they could have done better to match Virat Kohli’s tempo. The Australian then praised Cameron Green for showing how Kohli could have been supported, highlighting Green’s strike rate and claiming that their partnership looked dangerous at a point in time.

Tom Moody also said that after seeing Green and Kohli’s partnership before the Aussie got out in the 9th over, he thought a 200+ target was pretty much attainable.

“It isn’t like he had other end operating at the same tempo as him. The only time that was happening was when Green was at the crease and that was looking really threatening. Green was striking at 150 at that point. So that looked like a 200+ position. But then, the adjustments were made.” – Moody said via ESPNcricinfo.

Former New Zealand and Mumbai Indians pacer Mitchell McClenaghan launched his own praising words for Virat Kohli by highlighting the adjustment he made during his innings. The former left-arm pacer took note of his strike rate going down at one point in time but then appreciated him for the way he made some adjustments and accelerated his innings accordingly. McClenaghan also had high praise for Kohli due to his ability to absorb all the pressure.

“There was a period when his strike rate was coming down and it could have affected RCB in reaching a defendable total. Then you saw Virat missing a couple of balls, which is very unlike him, the wicket was getting difficult to bat on. So to make that adjustment and be able to go at the back end was good to see.” – McClenaghan said via ESPNcricnfo’s Time Out show.

RCB to welcome Lucknow Super Giants next

After suffering the one-sided loss to the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders, the RCB will welcome the Lucknow Super Giants up next at the Chinnaswamy stadium on the 2nd of April.