Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have found momentum back in the IPL 2021 with three consecutive victories. They are also among the three teams who have secured a spot in the playoffs, including Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir feels RCB captain Virat Kohli has done a good job as an anchor which helped Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers to utilize the second-half of their innings.
"The reason is probably Glenn Maxwell and AB de Villiers. Virat Kohli feels that those two can actually accelerate in the second half of the innings as well, so he can play that anchor role which he has done really well whenever he has anchored the innings whether in 50 overs or T20 cricket and that's not his natural game either," Gambhir said on ESPNCricinfo.
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Maxwell has been in outstanding form for RCB as he has smashed three back-to-back half-centuries in their last three matches which Bangalore won. He has scored 407 runs in 12 matches with an average of 40.70 and a strike rate of 145.35.
Gambhir further spoke on Kohli relying on his natural game which has helped RCB a lot. "So, that's the reason why he is more successful when he opens the batting so that he can use the first six overs and probably get the momentum on his side and continue batting after six overs and someone else from the other end can actually accelerate.
"But that's his natural game, but if goes out of his natural game, then it could be really hard for him to score a lot of runs because he doesn't have the same power or skill as De Villiers or for that matter, even Maxwell," he said.
RCB, after losing to Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings, came back to the winning track by defeating Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Punjab Kings in IPL 2021 second leg.
The ex-cricketer feels the combination of different players has made RCB successful this season. "Strike rates are very overrated. You can expect Kohli to have a 600-run season but you can never expect Maxwell to have a 600-run season.
"But you can never have Maxwell batting at a strike rate of 120-125 and can never expect Kohli to be batting at 160 strike rate. So, both those guys are different and it's just the combination of everyone which makes a very successful side," he concluded.
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
