IPL 2024: 'Don't look at Virat Kohli's fifty...' - Aaron Finch defends RCB star's knock vs SRH

Match 41 of the IPL 2024 edition saw the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 35 runs in a high-scorer in Hyderabad, on Thursday (April 25), to finally return to winning ways. Bottom-lying RCB opted to bat first and rode on Rajat Patidar's 50 (20) and Virat Kohli's 43-ball 51 to post 206 for 7. In reply, SRH only managed 171 for 8 to lose convincingly.

Many former cricketers, experts and fans lauded RCB for stopping the third-positioned SRH from bagging another win. However, a large section also pointed fingers at Kohli's sluggish knock. He started off nicely before slowing down and departed in the 15th over, striking at only 118.60. However, former Australia white-ball captain Aaron Finch defended the star batter. In addition, he further explained why he may have dropped down a bit on intent.

Speaking on Star Sports, Finch said, "I think it is a combination of a few things here. Yes, he got off to an absolute flyer. But after the powerplay, he dropped to 19 from 25. But one thing you have to keep in mind is that Patidar was going crazy at the other end. Sometimes your job as a set batter is to take the game a little bit deeper and get Patidar on strike as much as possible. That's where the intent to hit boundaries goes out."

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Further, the Australian T20 World Cup-winning captain pointed out that Kohli's knock was perfect for the 65-run third-wicket partnership between Patidar and him as the former RCB skipper was rightly giving the striketo hispartner who is in top form.

"You can look at him in isolation and say 'yes it dropped.' But as a partnership, it worked really well. Because the last thing you want when you're on fire is to be stuck at the non-striker's end a lot. He did the right thing by getting Patidar up there," Finch added.

In the run-chase, SRH struggled to come to grips with the track which further signified the importance of Kohli's 51 (43).

After only their second win in nine games, RCB continue to remain at the bottom but now have 4 points in their kitty. SRH, meanwhile, hold firmto the third spot with 10 points from eight games.