NEW DELHI: Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble and ex-Australian all-rounder Shane Watson have showered praise on Virat Kohli for his exceptional performances in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, expressing confidence in his ability to maintain his prime form during the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Following Kohli's scintillating knock of 92 off 47 balls, coupled with a collective bowling effort that propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a resounding 60-run victory over Punjab Kings, Kumble commended Kohli's relentless pursuit of excellence.
"He's been in outstanding form. He had a break coming into this IPL, and since then, he's been relentless in his pursuit of excellence," Kumble remarked on Jio Cinema, highlighting Kohli's remarkable contribution of 634 runs in the tournament.
Expressing optimism about Kohli's form translating into success for both RCB and Team India, Kumble emphasized the importance of Kohli's performance in the T20 World Cup.
"For India's sake, you'd want his form to continue in the World Cup as well," Kumble added, underscoring Kohli's pivotal role in shaping India's prospects on the global stage.
Similarly, Shane Watson lauded Kohli's all-round impact and his ability to elevate the performance of his teammates. Reflecting on Kohli's innings, Watson acknowledged the significance of the opportunities presented to Kohli early on, allowing him to capitalize and showcase his batting prowess effectively.
"They got some opportunities early as Virat Kohli was dropped twice. This allowed him to get going in his innings and he batted so beautifully once he capitalized on those chances," Watson remarked.
Furthermore, Watson highlighted Kohli's contribution in the field, particularly his electrifying run-out to dismiss Shahshank Singh.
"In the field, they made a couple of little errors, but you could see the intensity crank up in the field when they needed it to. Some great catches and a great run-out from Virat Kohli to get Shashank out," Watson concluded, applauding Kohli's exceptional performance on all fronts.
1/9:Virat Kohli keeps Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL playoffs hunt
ANI
2/9:Kohli's Dominant Innings
Virat Kohli slammed 92 to set up a 60-run win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over Punjab Kings and keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the Indian Premier League.PTI
3/9:Two crucial partnerships for RCB
Kohli, 35, rode his luck and shared two crucial partnerships with Rajat Patidar (55) and Cameron Green (46) as Bengaluru scored a big 241/7 at the Dharamsala stadium.PTI
4/9:Punjab's Fielding Woes
Punjab paid the price for some sloppy fielding, dropping Kohli twice on zero and 10 off debutant seamer Vidwath Kaverappa.PTI
5/9:Rossouw's Promising Start
<p>Rilee Rossouw gave Punjab a promising start, putting on 65 runs for the second wicket with Jonny Bairstow (27).</p>PTI
6/9:Bengaluru's Bowling Success
RCB bowler Swapnil Singh, who took two wickets, said the victory meant a lot to the side. "The ball was swinging initially, so I looked to swing it. Pressure is less when everybody is (scoring) runs," he said.PTI
7/9:Kohli's Strategic Approach
<p>Kohli said he is always aiming to improve his game. "I brought out the slog-sweep to the spinners. I know I can hit it as I've done it in the past," he said.</p>PTI
8/9:Punjab's Disappointing Campaign
Punjab skipper Sam Curran said it had been a "frustrating and disappointing" end to their campaign.PTI
