IPL 2021: ‘RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal made lives difficult for RR bowlers,’ says Sunil Gavaskar

IPL 2021: ‘RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal made lives difficult for RR bowlers,’ says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar and Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) thrashed Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 10 wickets in match 16 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. RCB openers Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal smashed the opposition bowlers all around the park during their respective knocks of 72* and 101* runs. The duo finished the match inside the 17th over to provide a major boost to the Net Run Rate of their side. 

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said that the left-right combination of Padikkal and Kohli made things difficult for the RR bowlers. He added that it was a treat to watch both of them play a variety of shots during the game.

“I mean look at that, then right-hand left-hand combination. They just made lives difficult for Rajasthan Royals bowlers. To start with Padikkal was the one to take the initiative and allowed Virat Kohli just to settle down and after they were really looking to match each other’s stroke.

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“It was delightful to watch as there was power, there was elegance, there was precise placement,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

This time RCB stands for ‘Real Challengers Bangalore’ – Gavaskar

RCB
Royal Challengers Bangalore players

The Challengers comfortably chased down the target of 178 set by the Royals while batting first at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Moreover, this was RCB’s fourth consecutive victory of this season and they remain at the top of the table. Gavaskar said that Bangalore looks better than any other edition before IPL 2021. 

“Some deliveries were not bad but these guys were smashing them for boundaries and sixes. It was an unreal sublime performance. And you know what, this time around when you look at that RCB, it stands for ‘Real Challengers of Bangalore’. All these years they have been okay but this time around they are real challengers of Bangalore,” Sunil Gavaskar further said.

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