Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar praised Virat Kohli after a six-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. In the season’s opener, Kohli scored 69 runs off just 38 balls in the run-chase of 202.
Kohli added 101 runs off just 45 balls with Devdutt Padikkal to lay down the foundation in the run-chase. The talisman scored five fours and as many sixes in his fine knock as he once again batted at the top of his game.
“He is at his peak, I would say. I have no words to describe his innings. I think he is my idol and the way I saw him in the nets, the same energy, the same eagerness to perform, to dominate this game, so that was really beautiful,” Rajat Patidar said during the post-match press conference (via iplt20.com).
Patidar gave credit to all the batters after the successful run-chase at home ground. Devdutt Padikkal also scored a match-winning knock of 61 runs off just 26 balls.
“The credit goes to all the batters, who displayed their skill. If I talk about the pitch, it was a great batting track. The ball was coming on nicely. I don’t think I am trying something new (in terms of captaincy), the only thing is that I try to go to players, talk to them, get them to a point where they feel relaxed and confident about their skills. I’m just trying to communicate as much as I can,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jacob Duffy, who returned with match-winning figures of 3-22 in his spell, bowled all his four overs on the bounce. Patidar revealed it was not pre-decided that he would bowl all of Duffy’s overs in one go.
“It was not pre-decided, I decided after his third over. Because Klaasen and Ishan Kishan was out there, and if he could take one more wicket, we could destroy their batting line-up. That’s why I backed him to bowl his fourth over. I think he bowled beautifully,” Patidar revealed
“Jacob Duffy is a specialist T20 bowler right now. We have a lot of confidence in him, that is why we have given him a chance. The way he showed his skill was tremendous,” he concluded.
RCB will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on April 5.
