IPL 2018:-After loss to CSK, Virat Kohli Terms RCB bowling criminal

Dhoni — who stood down for Kohli as India skipper in all formats last year — smashed an unbeaten 70 off 34 as the Super Kings chased down 206 to defeat the Royal Challengers Bangalore with two balls to spare.

Bangalore: Captain Virat Kohli slammed Royal Challengers` bowling as ‘criminal’ after Mahendra Singh Dhoni lifted Chennai Super Kings top of the Indian Premier League in a game featuring a record 33 sixes.

Dhoni — who stood down for Kohli as India skipper in all formats last year — smashed an unbeaten 70 off 34 as the Super Kings chased down 206 to defeat the Royal Challengers Bangalore with two balls to spare.

Dhoni hit the ball over the boundary seven times — including to seal the winning runs — while opener Ambati Rayudu slammed eight sixes on Thursday. Kohli was also docked his match fee of $18,000 because of the Challengers` slow over-rate at Bangalore`s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“The way we bowled was just not acceptable, giving that many runs in the end was criminal,” said Kohli. “Dhoni is looking in really good touch, he`s hitting the ball really well this IPL but not great to see it against us,” Kohli added.

Dhoni, 36, displayed his signature cool at the crease in a 101-run, fifth-wicket partnership with Rayudu, who hit 82. Some have suggested the wicketkeeper-batsman is past his prime but Dhoni`s 209 runs in six games, including two half-centuries, have been critical to putting two-time champions Chennai top of the IPL.

“What`s important in a chase is to know which bowler has how many (overs) left and who the captain will bowl when, and you play accordingly,” said Dhoni. “You will win some, you`ll lose some but the job of the finisher is to finish the job and help others.”

This year`s IPL is offering $8 million in prize money, including $4 million for the team crowned champions at the May 27 final in Mumbai.

“Great game for people to see but as a team, we are disappointed to not get across the line,” added Kohli, who was also fined Rs 12 lakh because of slow over-rate.

Kohli heaped praise on Rayudu and Dhoni for their blazing knocks.

“Rayudu has been around for 15 years now. He’s a quality player and he’s done well for India. You never know who gets a chance somewhere and I’m happy for him,” he said.

“Dhoni is looking in really good touch, he’s hitting the ball really well this IPL but not great to see it against us.”

Dhoni, who was adjudged the Man of the Match, said it was a difficult chase.

“I thought it was a difficult chase when I saw AB batting to see them over 200, I thought it was 15-20 beyond par. We also lost some key batsmen early but it’s a small ground, the ball travels a lot here, there was some dew, not a lot. Overall, it went according to the script, not according to how we would have thought but went well,” he said.

“This was a slightly slowish wicket, AB’s innings was very special, it seemed as if he took them at a really good pace, especially against good quality spinners.

“Credit goes to the spinners and it’s good to be on the winning side, everyone is chipping in, we’re chasing totals and Thakur is bowling well, he was under the pump earlier.”

Describing the chase as “unbelievable”, Rayudu said they wanted to play out Yuzvendra Chahal, who scalped two wickets in an impressive spell.

“Unbelievable… We lost a few wickets early, but on this ground anything is possible. I’m not really bothered (about where I’m batting) because I’m hitting the ball really well. We had the belief and we were calculating which bowler had how many bowlers, we just wanted to play out Chahal,” he said.

The post IPL 2018: After loss to CSK, Virat Kohli terms RCB bowling criminal appeared first on Its a Free World to Blog | Blog Directory | Article Directory.