Virat Kohli has struggled against RR, noted Aakash Chopra. Especially at RR’s home ground, his record is subpar. However, as Kohli is in top form, Chopra expects him to excel when RCB clashes with RR in Jaipur on April 6th for IPL 2024.
In the ongoing season, Virat Kohli has scored 203 runs at an impressive strike rate of 140.97 across 4 innings. Last year against RR, his two innings yielded a mere 18 runs, including a golden duck at home. Kohli will aim to improve his showing against RR this time around.
In a YouTube video, Chopra named Kohli as the first RCB player to focus on in Saturday’s encounter.
“The player I am going to talk about first, I feel the entire world and even the aliens’ focus will be on him because his name is Virat Kohli. Will he score runs in this match? There is a disturbing kind of stat for the Virat Kohli fans. Amongst all teams, his numbers against Rajasthan Royals are close to the bottom of the table.”
“If we see all the grounds, his numbers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium are close to the bottom of the table. So you feel that this guy hits everyone but not against them, hits everywhere else but not at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. I believe that let bygones be bygones and a new story needs to be written now.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra observed that Kohli does not crumble but thrives under strain. While remarking that the current batting great will face Trent Boult and Nandre Burger, he expects him to score runs.
Aakash Chopra Applauds RCB’s Glenn Maxwell for Strong Batting Numbers Against Opponent
Aakash Chopra identified Glenn Maxwell as the second RCB player to keep an eye on.
“The second player I am thinking about is Glenn Maxwell. Interestingly enough, his batting numbers against this team are good. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin are there in front of him. You say it is an ego battle and he will lose it but he scores runs.”
Aakash Chopra
The acclaimed analyst identified Reece Topley as the RCB bowler to watch against the Royals.
“I am thinking whether Reece Topley could be the third player. I am just going with Reece Topley because he has very good numbers against Jos Buttler. He has dismissed him many times. He got him out last time when they had a head-to-head in the SA20.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra does not expect Faf du Plessis to stop his dismal run with the bat in Saturday’s game. He believes Rajat Patidar will have to make way for Mahipal Lomror in the RCB starting lineup, allowing Cameron Green to bat at No. 3.