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Virat Kohli-Rajat Patidar
Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli discloses why the team management decided to send Rajat Patidar at No. 3.RCB experienced their second defeat of the season. The side lost by 34 runs against Punjab Kings. Having lost only two out of their seven games thus far, RCB sits in top contention for the Playoffs race.
PBKS vs RCB game witnessed many impressive performances both with the bat and the ball. However, RCB's right-handed batsman Rajat Patidar came under the radar after he struggled to perform with the bat. The 27-year-old scored 31 runs off 30 balls. Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen criticized RCB's team management's decision of sending Rajat Patidar at number 3. However, RCB captain Virat Kohli defended Patidar during the post-match presentation. Virat backed him to bat at the number 3 position.
Punjab Kings have jumped to the fifth spot in the points table
Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowlers troubled the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batters in the middle-overs. Asked to bat first, the KL Rahul-led side registered an easy 34-run win in Ahmedabad. Harpreet Brar was the star bowler who picked up three crucial wickets. He dismissed Virat Kohli (35 runs off 34 balls), Glenn Maxwell (0 off 1 ball) and AB de Villiers (3 runs off 9 balls) to blow the opposition’s run-chase in just three overs. Earlier, pacer Riley Meredith produced an amazing spell to get rid of opening batsman Devdutt Padikkal (7 runs off 6 balls).
Punjab Kings set a competitive 180-run target after KL Rahul played a brilliant unbeaten inning of 91 runs in 57 balls. Chris Gayle and KL Rahul had steered Punjab Kings to 179 for 5 at the end of 20 overs. Chris Gayle had scored 46 runs in 24 balls. In response, Virat Kohli & the team were only able to score 145/8. Harpreet Brar and Ravi Bishnoi were the highest wicket-takers for Punjab, picking up 3 and 2 wickets, respectively. RCB collapsed from 62/1 to 69/4 and lost a flurry of dismissals at the end of their innings. With this victory, Punjab Kings have jumped to the fifth spot in the points table. On the other hand, RCB is placed third with 10 points. Punjab Kings will next lock horns with Delhi Capitals on Sunday.