IPL 2020: Gavaskar reflects on RCB’s campaign, says Kohli didn’t match his own high standards with bat

RCB's campaign in the IPL 2020 ended with a six-wicket loss in the Eliminator.

Virat Kohli only made 6 runs in the IPL 2020 Eliminator | IPL/BCCI

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) got knocked out of the IPL 2020 on Friday (November 6) with a six-wicket loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator at Abu Dhabi.

Reflecting on RCB’s campaign, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said skipper Virat Kohli didn't quite match his own high standards with the bat and it was one of the reasons why the Bangalore-based franchise was not able to progress beyond the Eliminator.

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In 15 innings this season, Kohli amassed 466 runs. However, his strike-rate of 121.35 didn’t help RCB as they were among the teams with lowest run rates in the middle overs.

"Looking at the high standards that he sets for himself, maybe he would say he didn't quite match that and that's one of the reasons why RCB weren't able to go through. Because when he scores those big runs along with AB de Villiers, they invariably have big scores," Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.

"If anything, their bowling has always been their weak point. Even now, in this particular team, they have got an Aaron Finch, who is a fine T20 player, young Devdutt Padikkal, who began well and then Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers, then you have really got it made."

RCB were outstanding in the first half, winning 7 out of their 10 games but the team failed to carry the momentum in the business end of the tournament, losing five successive matches.

According to Gavaskar, all-rounder Shivam Dube should be backed by the RCB management for the finisher's role or the team need to find someone at No. 5 who can add firepower.

"I think where they need to do a little bit of thinking is give Shivam Dube a proper role. Dube has gone down and Sundar has gone up and down. If he can be given a role, and told to go out there and thrash the ball, it might help him. He is confused now."

"If they can get a solid player at No. 5, then it will ease the pressure of de Villiers and Virat," he remarked.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 07 Nov, 2020

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