Aakash Chopra praised Phil Salt for his flawless performance as an opener in the Delhi Capitals’ (DC) IPL 2023 victory against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
On Saturday, May 6, RCB set a target of 182 runs for the Capitals after deciding to bat first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Salt then smashed 87 runs off 45 balls as the home team knocked down the target with seven wickets and 20 deliveries to spare to claim their fourth tournament victory.
Chopra praised Salt for playing a devastating knock when evaluating the game in a video posted to his YouTube channel, elaborating:
“Phil Salt sprinkled salt on the wounds. There was a lot of violence. Delhi Police were informed to go to Ferozshah Kotla because the ball was getting beaten up mercilessly. You need an opener like this who doesn’t slow down at all.”
““David Warner did get out after a while but his intent was also class. After that came Rilee Rossouw and he was in a different hurry – a plethora of fours and sixes. Phil Salt got out in the end, but by that time RCB were also out because Axar Patel too came and hit a six.”
Rilee Rossouw finished unbeaten on 35 runs of 22 balls. David Warner (22 off 14) and Mitchell Marsh (26 off 17) also did not allow the RCB bowlers any breathing room.
Aakash Chopra on Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis’ partnership for RCB
Aakash Chopra reflected on the Royal Challengers Bangalore innings, praising Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli for getting his side off to a flying start and the Kohli for hitting the 7000-run mark in the Indian Premier League, stating:
“Faf and Kohli – they started like a bullet train once again. Both started very well but then Faf got out and Kohli was going at a strike rate of around 120. Kohli has climbed Mount 7000 – well done, it takes a lot of effort to reach there.”
While highlighting Mitchell Marsh’s back-to-back dismissals of Du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell as a game-changer, the well-known analyst praised Mahipal Lomror for a blazing knock, saying:
“Mitchell Marsh picked up two wickets in two balls and that was the difference in the end. Mahipal Lomror was absolutely stellar. The way he batted, he elevated the total and suddenly showed that a lot more runs can be scored here.”
Lomror scored an undefeated 54 off 29 balls. Kohli top-scored for the Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 46-ball 55, but he couldn’t press the pace when Du Plessis and Maxwell were gone, which proved vital in the end.