Ajit Agarkar, the former Indian pacer pointed out that skipper Virat Kohli of RCB committed two mistakes one by giving final over to Shivam Dube and another by batting lower than number three in the batting order. Virat Kohli’s captaincy is once again under-fire after suffering their massive defeat to KXIP by 97 runs.
Agarkar pointed out a couple of decisions that changed the course of the match. Firstly, he pointed out giving an over to inexperienced Shivam Dube during the end of the innings although he did manage to pick up two wickets, however, Ajit Agarkar feels that Virat Kohli should have gone with his strike bowlers who can bowl at death overs when centurion KL Rahul was batting.
Ajit Agarkar: Shivam Dube Should Not Have Bowled Last Over Especially When Batsman Is Set
Shivam Dube went for 23 in his third over despite conceding only 10 runs in his first 2 overs besides picking up two wickets and Ajit Agarkar felt that main strike bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini or Dale Steyn should have bowled instead of the all-rounder who is short of experience. He felt that since KL Rahul was set and batting on more than 100 runs, poor bowling makes a difference.
Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.
“I understand Dube had a couple of decent overs. But when you come into the last over, when one batsman is set and batting at 100+, you would want your main bowler to come and bowl. Particularly, in the last over, because in T20 cricket, a couple of deliveries could make a huge difference,” Ajit Agarkar said on the ESPNCricinfo T20 Timeout show.
KL Rahul smashed a powerful unbeaten 132 from 69 balls and took his team to 206/3. The trio of Umesh Yadav, Dale Steyn and Navdeep Saini went wicket-less.
Ajit Agarkar: Virat Kohli Should Never Bat Lower Than No. 3
While chasing, RCB lost a few early wickets, and skipper Virat Kohli went in to bat at number four which is another error according to former pacer Ajit Agarkar. Earlier, Gautam Gambhir has criticised Kohli too.
“Even though they were never even in the chase because they had lost too many wickets. And that is the other thing. Virat Kohli should never bat lower than No. 3. Yes, because they have Aaron Finch so he is not opening. But he just cannot bat lower than No. 3,” Agarkar said.
“These are the games in which he takes extra responsibility or rises to the occasion. He likes to get in the game. I was a little surprised he did not come to bat at no. 3. Not great decision making on the day.”
Virat Kohli sent wicket-keeper Josh Philippe ahead of him and the 23-year-old Australian disappointed again as he was dismissed without scoring after facing three balls. His selection in the XI is dubious since he has scored only a run and returned without scoring in the last game.
RCB were down and out when they were reeling at 4/3 but recovered somewhat and were bundled for 109 losing the last 5 wickets for 26 runs. None of the batsmen could score more than 30. KXIP had scored 206/3 in the stipulated 20 overs with skipper KL Rahul scoring a century as they won by 97 runs.