We broke the game open right there: Virat Kohli on key strategies that helped them register a convincing win against PBKS in IPL 2023

It was a fine display from the Royal Challengers Bangalore as they climbed up to the 5th position of the IPL 2023 points table, thanks to a brilliant display with the bat from the opening pair of Faf du Plessis (56-ball 84) and stand-in skipper Virat Kohli (49-ball 57), followed by a clinical performance from the bowlers. 

Defending 174, the RCB bowlers were bang on their money, particularly Mohammed Siraj, who went on to bag four wickets on the day to leave Punjab Kings without a chance to claw a comeback in the chase. 

Kohli, who captained the side in the absence of du Plessis, the latter batting as an Impact Player, had a few important things to say at the post-match presentation after RCB’s remarkable win. The star batter talked about the game and also shed some light on the points table and what this win meant to the team.

Virat said, “This (win) does not make us an invincible team or the league position before today did not make us a bad team. The table cannot define your mood when you have just played five or six games. Maintain our processes and stay in the moment.”

Talking about the conditions, Virat Kohli said, “In the first half, the conditions changed drastically. Faf batted outstandingly well. We thought of extending our partnership for as long as possible so that it could give us an extra 20 runs. After overs 7-8, as soon as the ball was getting bashed into the square, the ball really started getting scuffed up. We changed our strategy to bat deeper. Had we stayed in, we could have given a crack at 190-200. We felt 175 was a good score on this pitch.”

He concluded by talking about what he told his players ahead of their bowling display, adding, “I told them that was more than enough. All we had to do was be confident and hold the ball in hand looking to get wickets. The way you win games in T20 cricket is by taking wickets. At the halfway stage, the idea was to take the game to the opposition in the first six overs. We broke the game open right there and our fielding was brilliant as well.”