As Kolkata Knight Riders take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one of the intriguing battles to watch out for is how the RCB talisman Virat Kohli is going to deal with the off-spin of Sunil Narine, who is a master of using variations and bamboozling the batters and has picked up RCB opener four times from 17 innings. However, Kohli has been in good form this season, and former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina is confident that Kohli is playing in rhythm and can deal with Narine.
“Virat Kohli is the swami at the Chinnaswamy. He won’t be able to dismiss Virat now because he is playing in rhythm. The record you are talking about his four dismissals in 18 years, he might have gotten stuck somewhere,” Raina said, speaking on Star Sports.
“However, he is playing ‘Virat’ knocks now. He is already in the Orange Cap race, and Virat knows how to play him. He is also playing the sweep now. Along with the paddle sweep, he is also playing the slog sweep. He is reading the bowlers well from their hands. It will be important for Virat to look to dominate a little,” Raina observed.
Raina would also mention that winning the trophy for RCB is the only thing left for Kohli to achieve. “Absolutely, he has retired (from Tests) just now, and will get a different happiness if he wins RCB the trophy. He is RCB’s unbeatable strength. He has got everything in life, just the RCB trophy hasn’t come. He will definitely work hard for that. I feel RCB can lift the trophy this year if Virat Kohli plays ‘Virat’ knocks,” he responded.
“The other 10 players need to respond to him and stay alongside him. He knows how to read the situation. We have seen his running between the wickets along with his cricketing shots. A different energy will be seen now. He has already gotten a break. A different form will be seen. He has done it in the past, so why not now? He will be even more eager to do it now,” Raina observed.
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