IPL 2023: I told the guys that 175 was enough on this pitch – Virat Kohli after win against DC

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s superstar Virat Kohli was delighted after their 23-run win against Delhi Capitals at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Saturday. Kohli scored a decent knock of 50 runs from 34 balls before he was dismissed on a full toss by Lalit Yadav.

The talisman feels he could have helped his team get past the 200-run mark had he not gotten out after reaching his personal milestone. However, Kohli felt 175 was enough on the pitch as the spinners were getting help from the deck as it was gripping.

It was a day game and thus was no dew factor while bowling second. Defending anything below 180 is never easy at the Chinnaswamy but the RCB bowlers stuck to their guns. Mohammed Siraj scalped two wickets whereas debutant Vijaykumar Vyshak returned with impressive figures of 3-20.

Virat Kohli was awarded Player of the Match for his fine knock at the top of the order for RCB.

He said in the post-match presentation, “It was a tricky one. When it went up in the air, I made sure there was no one close to me. I made sure I grabbed it solidly. I was quite disappointed that I got out to a full toss. I’ve been playing really well. I wanted to make sure that after fifty, I was targetting 30-35 runs off the next 10 balls. That’s how I play. That would’ve helped us get past 200. One thing I mentioned to the guys in the change room that 175 was enough on this pitch. It slowed down considerably when the spinners came on. Even the balls to hit off the back foot off Kuldeep were holding up, unlike the other games we played. We did well to get to that score and had the belief it was enough.”

On the other hand, Kohli added he backs himself to hit the good balls and put the opposition under pressure and it could have been a different story had he not gotten out after completing his fifty.

He added, “When I’ve played my best cricket, those are the balls I’ve put away consistently (length balls on the up). That helps me to put pressure on the bowlers. When I put away their best balls, they’re going to try to do something else. I back myself to hit good balls and the best bowlers in the opposition. That’s how I motivate myself to play out there. Very happy to get two points. We kind of let it slip away last two games. For us to bounce back like this was very crucial. That was a different mentality and phase altogether (T20 World Cup 2016 semis). I was in a space where I felt I could hit any ball. I back myself to hit good shots. When they come off they look good.”

RCB will next take on Chennai Super Kings at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Monday.