After the dashing batter performed brilliantly against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Thursday (May 19), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Director of Cricket, Mike Hesson heaped praise on Virat Kohli for working hard behind the scenes and not allowing the prolonged bad patch to dent his confidence.
Hesson said that being a human being, Kohli would have also certainly felt the pressure after having been dismissed cheaply in 12 out of 13 games in the ongoing IPL 2022, but he desperately wanted to bring his luck back. Well, Kohli succeeded against GT, as he contributed 73 runs in RCB’s 8-wicket win over the table-toppers to keep the team’s hopes alive for the IPL 2022 playoffs.
Mike Hesson said at post-match post-conference: “The fact that he (Virat) was working so hard in the nets and trying to find rhythm away from the playing games, away from the contest, allowed him to keep that confidence up. But no doubt when you go through a patch like that - he is only human, you know then you do start to just have doubts and wonder when your luck is going to turn. So look, a little bit of luck tonight but he's certainly earned it throughout this IPL.”
On Kohli’s performance against GT, the former Kiwi coach said: “Look, I am absolutely delighted. Just shows like, (in) any team if you get the top-order firing and (have) a player like Virat, then it makes the rest of the chase a lot easier. And obviously chasing scores here has not been our forte so far in this IPL. We have been able to defend scores, but haven't been able to chase.”
Hesson continued, “We know Virat is the chase-master and he set the tone again today. It was a crucial game for us and the big players stood up. We know when Virat is in that frame of mind, good luck (to the opposition), because he can take the game away from anyone.”
He signed off by saying on Kohli’s lean patch, “It started in Pune and then from that point on, he got run-out a couple of times. Obviously, the one that went off the hip – he (Virat) pretty much found each and every way to get out. So he is right there, there certainly wasn't a pattern to those dismissals.”
(With PTI Inputs)
