When the crowd cheers even a single run from a batsman, his getting off the mark – you know the batsman has been in terrible form. That is what happened with IPL’s all-time leading run-scorer, Virat Kohli, after he got off the mark with a single against Punjab Kings on Friday at the Brabourne.
Kohli was coming off a golden duck versus Sunirsers Hyderabad in the previous game – that was his third golden duck of the season and his 6th single-digit score. The man who churned out 973 runs and 4 centuries in the god-like 2016 season was now finding it difficult to bat like a mere mortal.
In the couple of games in which he got runs, he batted at a strike so poor compared to the course of the game, that one could say his knock had a negative impact on the team’s total.
)
Against Punjab Kings, his task was set: get RCB off to a quick start in a massive run chase of 210. He scored 1 run from his first four balls before he produced a trademark Kohli cover drive off Arshdeep Singh, creaming through the covers and racing on the green of the ground. In the same over, he flicked Arshdeep in front of square for another boundary to get his and RCB’s innings going in this mighty run chase.
Fans felt it was perhaps an indication of the tide to turn and his rut to end. More such indications got the fans excited when he launched Harpreet Brar over mid-wicket after using his feet and dancing down the track. The Brabourne got set to see a vintage Kohli knock that will set in the motion his return to form. But for Kagiso Rabada and some bad luck.
Looking at Kohli going strong, PBKS skipper Mayank Agarwal promptly got his spearhead and in-form seamer Rabada in the attack and the South African struck on his second ball with the big wicket.
Kohli backed on the leg side and little forward to a hard length ball that rose sharply and looked to flick it. However, it brushed from under his glove, onto his thigh pad, and lobbed straight to Rahul Chahar at short fine leg.
On his way back to the dugout Kohli looked up to the heavens with his arms raised, demanding or pleading for some luck as he’d done it in one of the previous games. The video of the same has been going viral on the internet.
Watch the viral video:
Have never seen him like this
@imVkohli pic.twitter.com/edmH6T1feo
— Sweta Sharma (@SwetaSharma22) May 13, 2022
Fans were left shocked after this soft dismissal, especially given Kohli had looked good and in touch in his short stay of 20 runs from 14 balls.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions to another low score from Virat Kohli:
Luck at the moment totally against Virat Kohli. He is so disappointed the way he got out. pic.twitter.com/QstRxbVVQb
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) May 13, 2022
All class from Virat Kohli. pic.twitter.com/NEMIRdglVV
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2022
Virat Kohli dismissed for 20 in 14 balls. Kagiso Rabada gets him for the 4th time.-— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 13, 2022
*Virat Kohli gets out early*
God : pic.twitter.com/VmytKV94DC
— PrinCe (@Prince8bx) May 13, 2022
This is so heartbreaking
— Aly Goni (@AlyGoni) May 13, 2022
