Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli is proud of his boys but insisted that they are not “over-excited” with two back-to-back victories in the ongoing 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) after RCB’s 6-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday (April 14).
After winning the toss, the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain David Warner invited Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to bat at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, and the RCB had a slight good start but SRH bowlers showed their class and restrict Bangalore to 149/8 in 20 overs.
Glenn Maxwell was particularly impressed with the bat for the RCB as the Australian all-rounder hit his first fifty in the IPL after five years to take the Bangalore-based team close to the 150-run target for SRH.
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Defending the total, the RCB made a great start by dismissing Wriddhiman Saha for just 1 off 9 balls, however, Warner (54) and Manish Pandey (38) brought Hyderabad back into the game and put them into the front seat in Chennai.
But it was spinner Shahbaz Ahmed who turned the match in favor of RCB by taking picked three wickets in the 17th over and won the game for Bangalore by 6 runs on Wednesday.
Kohli told host broadcaster Star Sports in the post-match presentation: “To be very honest, we're not over-excited with victories. We have a clear plan and backing our players. We got Harshal Patel from Delhi Capitals for a role. It's a long tournament and you have to be professional with your job.”
The right-hander also believes that the ongoing IPL 14 will get tougher with each passing game while hailing RCB’s win over SRH in Chennai on Wednesday. He continued, “Not as exhausted as I'm proud. It was a top game for us and probably it will get tougher and tougher here.”
He also pointed out that the teams are struggling to chase in Chennai in the ongoing IPL 2021, as batting becomes slightly difficult in the second innings on the Chepauk wicket while highlighting Kolkata Knight Riders’ 10-run loss to Mumbai Indians on April 13, saying MI was never out of the game.
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The RCB skipper further explained, “You saw it in KKR vs MI - you're never really out of the game. Those extra options made an impact on performances in the middle overs. I told them if we've struggled to 149, it will be tougher for the opposition. I truly believed we could win with 150.”
Kohli signed off by praising Maxwell, “The wicket was never a belter and tonight our execution under pressure was spot-on. The wicket kept getting tougher and tougher with the old ball. It's about getting momentum in the first six overs, but for us, Maxi gave us that momentum and got us closer to 150.”
Noteworthy, RCB will next lock horns with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2021 on April 18.
(With ANI Inputs)
