Former South Africa and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting legend AB de Villiers stated that the franchise needs star batter Virat Kohli to be in the middle overs so they can perform at their peak.
The Bengaluru side has struggled early this season with three losses in their first four matches. Virat has been their only in-form batter so far, scoring 203 runs while averaging 67.66, including two fifties. Virat will need support from other batters like skipper Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green to win games for the side.
“I hope Virat can build on his strong start, as RCB needs him to steady the innings during the middle overs. He should look to bat through the powerplay so that Faf can play more aggressively upfront. If Virat anchors the innings from overs 6-15, that is when RCB will be best positioned to accelerate in the death overs. Virat batting during that period is the key for RCB to maximize their potential.”
De Villiers also commented on RCB”s performance in the 17th season.
“RCB had a mediocre start this season; it’s not good nor bad. They will need to secure a few more wins, especially on the road, before returning home to Bengaluru. With any luck, RCB can gain momentum during their upcoming away matches and climb up the table.”
De Villiers has been a stalwart for RCB from 2011 to 2021, featuring in 157 matches and amassing 4,522 runs at an average of 41.10. For the franchise, he hit two centuries and 37 half-centuries while maintaining a prolific strike rate of more than 158. De Villiers’ remarkable and explosive batting earned him induction into RCB’s exclusive ‘Hall of Fame,’ joining West Indian great Chris Gayle and Indian pacer Vinay Kumar.
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