Published: Apr 21, 2025, 08:45 AM (IST)
Edited: Apr 21, 2025, 09:42 AM (IST)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar praised Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal for their ever-so impressive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS), as they won by seven wickets at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh.
Kohli’s unbeaten score of 73 runs off 54 balls, along with a 61-run outing by Devdutt Padikkal helped RCB in their victory against PBKS. After this victory, RCB is at the third in the points table, as they have 5 wins on 8 matches i.e. 10 points.
Rajat Patidar praised Kohli and Devdutt for the way they executed how they had planned to play the match, adding that even though the the bowlers did their work at different points of the match, the two played very well.
“Credit goes to the bowlers. Dev and Kohli, the way they executed their plans. The bowlers chipped in at different stages, the way they executed their plans, it was beautiful,” Rajat said in the post-match presentation.
Coming to the match, Devdutt Padikkal (61 off 35 balls), who is quite an elegant batter when in form, scored his first IPL half-century in 22 innings while chases like these have been a cakewalk for someone of Kohli’s caliber as he played second fiddle for the better part of his innings. The latter remained unbeaten on 73 runs from 54 deliveries.
The duo added 103 in 11.3 overs by playing textbook cricketing strokes with minimal risk. It was Kohli, who started off with a signature pull off Arshdeep Singh where the rolling of wrists kept the ball down and a bowler’s back-drive off Xavier Bartlett to signal his intentions.
He got an able partner in Padikkal, who hit fours and sixes in equal measure. The best of the lot from Padikkal certainly was the lofted one off Marco Jansen where his bat swing was picture perfect. Padikkal was finally gone trying to got for a fifth six off left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar’s bowling but by then RCB had all but pocketed the game.
Once he completed his 50 off 42 balls, Kohli slashed Arshdeep deliberately behind point for a boundary. But undoubtedly the best shot was an inside out straight six off Yuzvendra Chahal. Jitesh Sharma finished off the match with a wonderful six as RCB completed the 158-run target in 18.5 overs and moved to the third spot on the table with 10 points.
