Xtra Time Web Desk: It was a clinical performance from Royal Challengers Banglaore as they beat MS Dhoni led Chennai Super Kings by 37 runs in Match No 25 of the ongoing IPL 2020 at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday. Batting first RCB posted 169/4 with Kohli leading from the front, scoring a stupendous 90* off 52 balls. His knock was decorated with four boundaries and sixes respectively. Chasing a target of 170 runs to win, CSK lost its both openers Watson (14 off 18) and Faf (8 off 10) for a low score. Ambati Rayudu (42 off 40) along with Narayan Jagadeeshan (33 off 28) started to stitch a partnership but brilliance from Morris saw Jagadeeshan running himself out. There was hardly any resistance from the CSK lower order batsman as they could only manage 132/8.
Talking after the match, a visibly relaxed Kohli said, “It was one of our more complete performances. Wanted to bat first but got into a bit of a trick siituation there. We spoke at the time out that around 150 would be great. To gain some momentum now was very important because we have back-to-back games. When you don’t get too far ahead of the game, it rewards you. If you’re in at the death overs and you have a score and you’re hitting it well, you can capitalise well. That was something for us to learn tonight.”
Losing captain MS Dhoni blamed the lower order batting. of his side. “I think the last four overs when we were bowling, we just needed to close it nicely. Batting has been a bit of a worry and today also it was evident. We need to do something about it. I think we are better off playing the other way round, playing the bigger shots even if you get out. That is something we can do in the coming games. I think it also depends on how you’ve performed so far in the tournament and our batting has lacked a bit of power from the sixth over onwards. Individuals can get tentative no matter how much confidence you give them. I feel that’s where we’ve not adapted or come up with plans against the bowlers who bowl from the 6th to the 14th over. I always told the players to focus more on the process – when you start thinking about results of the previous game, you put a burden.”