'Kohli played 59 balls to reach 83, KKR scored 85 in 5.5 overs’ - Aakash Chopra analyses RCB's defeat against KKR

Royal Challengers Bengaluru were recently handed their second loss of the IPL 2024 season at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday, March 29.

The clash began with RCB batting first, and after a mammoth 83-run knock by Virat Kohli, the hosts managed to post a total of 182 runs in the first innings of the clash. However, as KKR came down to chase the total, the side made it look very easy. 

The two-time champions opened with Phil Salt and Sunil Narine’s onslaught, as both batters scored quickfire 30 and 47 runs, respectively. Furthermore, Venkatesh Iyer scored 50 runs in 30 deliveries, with Shreyas Iyer adding 39* runs on the board to help KKR chase the target with seven wickets in hand. 

Their incredible batting prowess impressed former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra, who came forward to laud KKR’s chasing ability against RCB and reflect on the side’s performance. 

"When Sunil Narine opens, the template is absolutely clear - 'Either I or you will not remain'. He plays in that fashion, tries to hit sixes. Everyone knows that you need to repeatedly bowl bouncers and yorkers, but if you don't get success in that, just like Bengaluru didn't get in the first six overs, he takes the match far away from your grasp," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. 

Everyone was hit a lot: Aakash Chopra

Chopra compared RCB’s performance with the bat to KKR’s performance in the second innings, highlighting the fact that the visitors had touched the score of 80 runs in the first five overs itself. 

Also Read: ‘They don’t have good bowlers in IPL 2024’ - Harbhajan Singh comes down hard on RCB’s bowling attack after second loss

"Phil Salt was also there with him. Phil Salt hit 18 runs in the first over itself. He was brilliant. Just to put things in context, the opposing team bowled well but Kohli played 59 balls to reach 83 and Kolkata had already scored 85 in 5.5 overs. Whether it was Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Siraj or Yash Dayal, everyone was hit a lot," Chopra said.