IPL 2022: If you try to help, you just get in the way – Daniel Vettori reckons RCB should give Virat Kohli space

Former Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Daniel Vettori feels the franchise’s think tank should give space to Virat Kohli to sort out his dismal form in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2022. Kohli has been in poor form as he is struggling to get going. The talisman was dismissed for a golden duck for the second straight match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Kohli was looking to drive a full-length delivery against Marcos Jansen but he could only find an outside edge, which was taken by Aiden Markram. The right-hander has thus far scored 119 runs in eight matches at an average of 17 and a strike rate of 122.68 in the ongoing 15th season of the IPL.

Vettori added that Kohli has all the experience and class under his belt and he can come out of the rut. The former left-arm orthodox spinner suggested that Kohli should have a word with his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma and it is a matter of time before he finds his mojo.

Daniel Vettori said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “It will be up to the individual. It will be up to Kohli and his experience and his understanding of himself; how he will manage his way out of it. If you try to help, you just get in the way and you’ll probably say the wrong thing and alienate him. It’s easier just to say, ’Virat, we trust you completely, and we’ll see you at the backend of the tournament, winning games for us’.”

Meanwhile, RCB were skittled out for only 68 runs against Orange Army, which is their second-lowest total in the IPL history. No batter could get going as Marco Jansen and T Natarajan scalped three wickets each.

“I don’t think it happened, in their minds. These games seem to happen for every team once a tournament. Players do have a short memory and RCB has been playing some very good cricket. Their planning would go on to the next game rather than debriefing this one.”

On the other hand, SRH came up with a fine performance. The bowling was right on the money and they chased down 69 runs in eight overs to win convincingly by nine wickets.

“Perfect performance by SRH. If you draw up performances as a coaching staff or as a captain, this is what it looks like. It started with that over from Marco Jansen and everyone else played their part. There was some great catching from the likes of Nicholas Pooran. When you are chasing a small total, you can go one or two ways. Abhishek Sharma came out and just took the game away.”

RCB will next face Rajasthan Royals at the Maharashtra Cricket Association, Pune on Tuesday.