Virat Kohli’s last few matches have been very bad.Image Credit source: PTI
New Delhi: In IPL 2023, the race for the playoffs has reached the very last matches and no team has been able to reach the playoffs except Gujarat Titans. At the same time, two teams have been out of the tournament, in which Delhi Capitals spoiled the game of Punjab Kings. Now Sunrisers Hyderabad can do the same thing, which is facing Royal Challengers Bangalore. It is very important for Bangalore to win here and for that Virat Kohli’s walk is necessary but it is not going to be so easy.
The evening of Thursday 18th May at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi Uppal Stadium is very important for Virat Kohli. The journey of his team Bangalore, which is struggling to stay in the playoff race, may end on this ground. Anyway, Bangalore’s record against Hyderabad has not been very good and in such a situation, their path is not going to be easy.
Who is ahead in the fight between Kohli and Bhubaneswar?
If Bangalore has to win this match, then good performance will be expected from Virat Kohli, for whom the last few matches have not gone well. His road against Hyderabad is going to be even more difficult as Kohli will face the bowler who has troubled him a lot. This bowler is – Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Whenever these two have clashed in IPL, Virat Kohli has generally faced problems. Kohli and Bhuvneshwar have faced each other in 13 innings and in this the Bangalore veteran batsman has faced 62 balls, in which only 75 runs have come. That is, the strike rate of 121.
In comparison, the experienced pacer from Hyderabad has dismissed Virat 3 times. Kohli has been able to collect only 11 fours and 1 six on Bhubaneswar’s balls. Kohli could not even take any run on 27 balls.
SRH pacers are in form
That means this time also the competition is not going to be easy. There are two other reasons for this – one, Kohli himself is struggling for runs in the last few matches. He has lost wickets especially in trying to use power against medium pacers. At the same time, Bhuvneshwar is known for taking wickets in the powerplay. Overall this season, he has been seen returning to rhythm and has taken the maximum 14 wickets for the team so far.
