Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI), who are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2022 points table, have locked horns with table-toppers Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 51 of the 15th season, on Friday evening (May 06).

Being asked to bat first, at the high-scoring Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, Rohit &amp; Co. posted a healthy 177-6 riding on skipper's 43, Ishan Kishan's 45 and Tim David's 21-ball 44 not out. The foundation was set for a big score courtesy of openers Rohit, in particular, and Ishan's confident start. While MI fell short by 15-20 runs to post a total near, or, in excess of&nbsp;200, Rohit slammed his 200th six in MI jersey (236* sixes in IPL&nbsp;post the GT knock).

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With this, Rohit joined an elite list of big-hitters to have slammed 200-plus sixes for a single franchise.

200-plus sixes for an IPL team (including&nbsp;Champions League T20)

1. Chris Gayle for RCB (263)

2. Kieron Pollard for MI (257)

3. Ab de Villiers for RCB (240)

4. Virat Kohli for RCB (228)

5. MS Dhoni for CSK (220)

6. Suresh Raina (219)

5. Rohit Sharma for MI (201)*

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Talking about the MI-GT clash, Mumbai were 74 for no loss within 8 overs but struggled to reach 177-6 eventually. Rashid Khan starred with the ball for Gujarat, returning with 2 for 24, as&nbsp;the five-time winners' MI franchise need to fight hard to defend 178 and earn another win in the season on Friday evening.&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI), who are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2022 points table, have locked horns with table-toppers Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 51 of the 15th season, on Friday evening (May 06).

Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI), who are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2022 points table, have locked horns with table-toppers Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 51 of the 15th season, on Friday evening (May 06). Being asked to bat first, at the high-scoring Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, Rohit & Co. posted a healthy 177-6 riding on skipper's 43, Ishan Kishan's 45 and Tim David's 21-ball 44 not out. The foundation was set for a big score courtesy of openers Rohit, in particular, and Ishan's confident start. While MI fell short by 15-20 runs to post a total near, or, in excess of 200, Rohit slammed his 200th six in MI jersey (236* sixes in IPL post the GT knock). ALSO READ | 'You made a reunion team' - Former Indian opener defends Ravindra Jadeja amid CSK's IPL 2022 struggles With this, Rohit joined an elite list of big-hitters to have slammed 200-plus sixes for a single franchise. 200-plus sixes for an IPL team (including Champions League T20) 1. Chris Gayle for RCB (263) 2. Kieron Pollard for MI (257) 3. Ab de Villiers for RCB (240) 4. Virat Kohli for RCB (228) 5. MS Dhoni for CSK (220) 6. Suresh Raina (219) 5. Rohit Sharma for MI (201)* ALSO READ | AB de Villiers to Yusuf Pathan: IPL superstars with most Player-of-the-Match awards Talking about the MI-GT clash, Mumbai were 74 for no loss within 8 overs but struggled to reach 177-6 eventually. Rashid Khan starred with the ball for Gujarat, returning with 2 for 24, as the five-time winners' MI franchise need to fight hard to defend 178 and earn another win in the season on Friday evening.

IPL 2022: Rohit Sharma hits 200th six in MI jersey, joins Virat Kohli in elite list of batters

Virat Kohli's form has become a huge talking point in world cricket. The 33-year-old has been without an international century since late 2019. In fact, he has now completed over 100 matches across formats, including IPL 2022, without a triple-figure mark.

While Kohli has contributed with half-centuries, mainly in white-ball formats, his struggles have been evident from time to time. In IPL 15, he has only one fifty-plus score and has amassed&nbsp;216 runs at an average of 21.60 and a strike rate of 111.91. Many former cricketers such as Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, Parthiv Patel, Virender Sehwag, Ian Bishop, etc. have commented on Kohli's struggles. Now, former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has joined the bandwagon and made a big statement.

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"Every player goes through this phase, some come out of it early, some take a long. Guys like Kohli have more pressure because they are attractions. Ravi Shastri and others have suggested rest but Virat Kohli knows best."

"When he was in form, he would score heaps of runs. The way he used to perform, Virat was set to break Sachin Tendulkar's record with ease, he had scored so many hundreds. He took it to the extreme. But now when he is dealing with bad form, that too has come at extreme, that too has peaked,"&nbsp;Latif said on his Youtube show&nbsp;'caught-behind.'

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Reflecting on Kohli's struggles in the 15th season of the IPL, Latif added, "He has to come out of this rough patch himself. Everyone has the belief in him and he will come back, and the day he realised it himself, he will start doing it. Against Gujarat Titans, he has started doing it (Kohli scored a 53-ball 58). I could see that touch,"

"In the last few games, there were a few inside-edged and things like that but the other day against GT, he hit a couple of crisp drives, played Shami well, and he looks on good touch. If he can continue doing it, runs will come," concluded Latif.

To back Latif's claims, it did look realistically possible for Kohli to break&nbsp;or come near Tendulkar's tally of international tons (100). In late 2019, Kohli had registered his 70th century. While he can get back to form and deliver the goods as he used to earlier, it seems unlikely that Kohli will now come close to Tendulkar's tally.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli's form has become a huge talking point in world cricket. The 33-year-old has been without an international century since late 2019. In fact, he has now completed over 100 matches across formats, including IPL 2022, without a triple-figure mark.

Virat Kohli's form has become a huge talking point in world cricket. The 33-year-old has been without an international century since late 2019. In fact, he has now completed over 100 matches across formats, including IPL 2022, without a triple-figure mark. While Kohli has contributed with half-centuries, mainly in white-ball formats, his struggles have been evident from time to time. In IPL 15, he has only one fifty-plus score and has amassed 216 runs at an average of 21.60 and a strike rate of 111.91. Many former cricketers such as Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen, Parthiv Patel, Virender Sehwag, Ian Bishop, etc. have commented on Kohli's struggles. Now, former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rashid Latif has joined the bandwagon and made a big statement. ALSO READ | This is something we've been seeing with him: Ian Bishop expresses concern over Virat Kohli's poor form "Every player goes through this phase, some come out of it early, some take a long. Guys like Kohli have more pressure because they are attractions. Ravi Shastri and others have suggested rest but Virat Kohli knows best." "When he was in form, he would score heaps of runs. The way he used to perform, Virat was set to break Sachin Tendulkar's record with ease, he had scored so many hundreds. He took it to the extreme. But now when he is dealing with bad form, that too has come at extreme, that too has peaked," Latif said on his Youtube show 'caught-behind.' ALSO READ | He's giving interviews to our enemy country which can incite religious sentiments: Afridi on Kaneria's claims Reflecting on Kohli's struggles in the 15th season of the IPL, Latif added, "He has to come out of this rough patch himself. Everyone has the belief in him and he will come back, and the day he realised it himself, he will start doing it. Against Gujarat Titans, he has started doing it (Kohli scored a 53-ball 58). I could see that touch," "In the last few games, there were a few inside-edged and things like that but the other day against GT, he hit a couple of crisp drives, played Shami well, and he looks on good touch. If he can continue doing it, runs will come," concluded Latif. To back Latif's claims, it did look realistically possible for Kohli to break or come near Tendulkar's tally of international tons (100). In late 2019, Kohli had registered his 70th century. While he can get back to form and deliver the goods as he used to earlier, it seems unlikely that Kohli will now come close to Tendulkar's tally.

'He was set to break Sachin Tendulkar's record' - Ex-Pakistan captain opines on Virat Kohli's struggles

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has been enduring a rough patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently and has been far from his best for RCB. Kohli has so far managed only one half-century in eleven matches for RCB this season and has not been among the runs for the Faf du Plessis-led side.

Despite being promoted to open the innings, Kohli's poor form has continued in IPL 2022. In RCB's last game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he was dismissed cheaply once again after a sluggish knock of 30 off 33 balls. Kohli was cleaned up by a peach of a delivery from CSK all-rounder Moeen Ali.

The off-spinner bamboozled the RCB star ensuring he couldn't convert his start into a big score. Former RCB captain Daniel Vettori was recently asked about Kohli's dismissal against Moeen and the Kiwi great questioned his intent. Vettori said Kohli clearly lacked intent while batting against CSK and was not looking to go for big shots at all.&nbsp;

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Slamming Kohli for his poor show, Vettori further reckoned that Kohli is good enough to use his feet against someone like Moeen, who is a part-time spinner.&nbsp;

"But it just feels like it comes down to intent, at no stage did Kohli look like he was going for anything but a single. So, you plant your foot down the crease, and you wait for the ball to come. If the ball is in the right spot, you can't manipulate a single. And Kohli at his best takes on off-spin because he's aggressive, he hits them straight, and then he hits his hard ones," Vettori said on ESPNCricinfo.

"So, it is all about intent. And maybe the loss of the wicket, the run-out of Maxwell just put him back in his cage, and he thought 'I need to bat for an extended period of time'. But he is good enough to use his feet against Moeen Ali," he added.

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Kohli has so far managed to score just 216 runs in 11 matches this season at an abysmal average of&nbsp;21.60 and a strike rate of just over 111. The run machine has struggled to get off to good starts as an opener and has faced difficulty in tackling both spin and pace in IPL 2022.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has been enduring a rough patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently and has been far from his best for RCB.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli has been enduring a rough patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Kohli has struggled to churn out runs consistently and has been far from his best for RCB. Kohli has so far managed only one half-century in eleven matches for RCB this season and has not been among the runs for the Faf du Plessis-led side. Despite being promoted to open the innings, Kohli's poor form has continued in IPL 2022. In RCB's last game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), he was dismissed cheaply once again after a sluggish knock of 30 off 33 balls. Kohli was cleaned up by a peach of a delivery from CSK all-rounder Moeen Ali. The off-spinner bamboozled the RCB star ensuring he couldn't convert his start into a big score. Former RCB captain Daniel Vettori was recently asked about Kohli's dismissal against Moeen and the Kiwi great questioned his intent. Vettori said Kohli clearly lacked intent while batting against CSK and was not looking to go for big shots at all. Also Read: Powell reveals Warner's response when asked if he wanted a single to get to his 100 in 20th over Slamming Kohli for his poor show, Vettori further reckoned that Kohli is good enough to use his feet against someone like Moeen, who is a part-time spinner. "But it just feels like it comes down to intent, at no stage did Kohli look like he was going for anything but a single. So, you plant your foot down the crease, and you wait for the ball to come. If the ball is in the right spot, you can't manipulate a single. And Kohli at his best takes on off-spin because he's aggressive, he hits them straight, and then he hits his hard ones," Vettori said on ESPNCricinfo. "So, it is all about intent. And maybe the loss of the wicket, the run-out of Maxwell just put him back in his cage, and he thought 'I need to bat for an extended period of time'. But he is good enough to use his feet against Moeen Ali," he added. Also Read: UNBELIEVABLE! Umran Malik bowls fastest delivery of IPL 2022, clocks 157 kmph Kohli has so far managed to score just 216 runs in 11 matches this season at an abysmal average of 21.60 and a strike rate of just over 111. The run machine has struggled to get off to good starts as an opener and has faced difficulty in tackling both spin and pace in IPL 2022.

'He is good enough to use his feet against Moeen Ali': Ex-RCB skipper criticises Virat Kohli amid poor run

Virat Kohli's poor form with the bat has become a huge topic of discussion in world cricket. While Kohli hasn't scored a century in international cricket since late 2019, his form in IPL 2022 is also a cause of concern for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.

Though RCB are very much in contention for the playoffs, their former skipper Kohli hasn't got going in the 15th season. So far, Kohli has amassed only&nbsp;216 runs at an average of 21.60 and a strike rate of 111.91. Even in some innings where he has scored runs, he has gone at an ordinary run-a-ball. During RCB's 13-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), on Wednesday (May 04) in match 49, Kohli again got a start but returned with a 33-ball 30. A game earlier, he had scored his first fifty of the season, versus Gujarat Titans (GT), but ended with a 53-ball 58. Thus, former West Indies speedster-turned-commentator Ian Bishop has expressed his concern over Kohli's dry run, below-par strike rate and knack of getting out to pff-spinners (Moeen Ali dismissed Kohli in CSK-RCB clash).

"For a while, for 10 or 15 runs, he wasn't even going at a run-a-ball, or he was just going at a run-a-ball," Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo's 'T20 Time Out'. "He didn't get ahead, and there wasn't much intent. He hit one (six) over extra-cover off the seamer (vs CSK), and that was when he just went ahead to a run-a-ball and then he came back.

"This is something we've been seeing with Virat, not just this season. Even last season, I remember, and even sometimes internationally, he'll fly out - he didn't fly out tonight - and then he'll slow down again. So, I'm concerned," opined Bishop.

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"Roston Chase got him out in the West Indies series (at home in February), we saw him getting out to the off-spinner in Test matches. So, I'm concerned about ... and I'm a Kohli fan. I tune in to watch cricket when Kohli's at his best, so it isn't criticism but an observation that I am concerned that a number of types of bowlers are getting him out and he's not getting ahead of the rate," added the veteran.

Amid his struggles, Kohli has been advised by many former cricketers, such as Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad,&nbsp;Kevin Pietersen, etc., to take a significant break from cricket in order to stay afresh and return to scoring ways for Team India.

Virat Kohli's poor form with the bat has become a huge topic of discussion in world cricket. While Kohli hasn't scored a century in international cricket since late 2019, his form in IPL 2022 is also a cause of concern for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise.

Virat Kohli's poor form with the bat has become a huge topic of discussion in world cricket. While Kohli hasn't scored a century in international cricket since late 2019, his form in IPL 2022 is also a cause of concern for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise. Though RCB are very much in contention for the playoffs, their former skipper Kohli hasn't got going in the 15th season. So far, Kohli has amassed only 216 runs at an average of 21.60 and a strike rate of 111.91. Even in some innings where he has scored runs, he has gone at an ordinary run-a-ball. During RCB's 13-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), on Wednesday (May 04) in match 49, Kohli again got a start but returned with a 33-ball 30. A game earlier, he had scored his first fifty of the season, versus Gujarat Titans (GT), but ended with a 53-ball 58. Thus, former West Indies speedster-turned-commentator Ian Bishop has expressed his concern over Kohli's dry run, below-par strike rate and knack of getting out to pff-spinners (Moeen Ali dismissed Kohli in CSK-RCB clash). "For a while, for 10 or 15 runs, he wasn't even going at a run-a-ball, or he was just going at a run-a-ball," Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo's 'T20 Time Out'. "He didn't get ahead, and there wasn't much intent. He hit one (six) over extra-cover off the seamer (vs CSK), and that was when he just went ahead to a run-a-ball and then he came back. "This is something we've been seeing with Virat, not just this season. Even last season, I remember, and even sometimes internationally, he'll fly out - he didn't fly out tonight - and then he'll slow down again. So, I'm concerned," opined Bishop. ALSO READ | Want him to take significant break before Asia Cup, says MSK Prasad amid Virat Kohli's poor form "Roston Chase got him out in the West Indies series (at home in February), we saw him getting out to the off-spinner in Test matches. So, I'm concerned about ... and I'm a Kohli fan. I tune in to watch cricket when Kohli's at his best, so it isn't criticism but an observation that I am concerned that a number of types of bowlers are getting him out and he's not getting ahead of the rate," added the veteran. Amid his struggles, Kohli has been advised by many former cricketers, such as Ravi Shastri, MSK Prasad, Kevin Pietersen, etc., to take a significant break from cricket in order to stay afresh and return to scoring ways for Team India.

This is something we've been seeing with him: Ian Bishop expresses concern over Virat Kohli's poor form

Virat Kohli's form remains a concern. During the IPL 2022 edition, he achieved an unwanted feat of going over 100 matches across formats without a century. While Kohli scored his first half-century for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their tenth outing this season, he only managed a 53-ball 58. Even in RCB's reverse fixture versus the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kohli returned with an unimpressive 33-ball 30.

As his struggle for runs continues, the whole of the Indian cricket fraternity is concerned by King Kohli's barren run. His last international ton came in late 2019 and at present, he is looking far from his usual best. Amid all this, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had advised him to pull out of IPL 15 and take a much-needed break. Now, former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has also joined the bandwagon and asked Kohli to take a significant rest to return completely fresh before the Asia Cup.

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Further, MSK also called for KL Rahul to be tried at No. 4 in T20Is with Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma opening the innings.

"These three are indispensable if fit. There is no way that you can leave anyone of them for the World T20. But yes, if I look at numbers, I might just try someone like Shikhar Dhawan at the opening slot and check Rahul out at No.4. He has a T20 hundred in Manchester some years back in middle-order, so why not. But yes, I want Virat to take a significant break and before the Asia Cup, he should be fresh, up and running," Prasad told PTI.

It remains to be seen if Kohli takes a break in the near future. At present, it seems highly unlikely given that Faf du Plessis-led RCB haven't cemented a place in the playoffs in this year's IPL season. Given that India will play the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia later this year, Kohli's form is extremely critical to the Men in Blue's chances in the showpiece event.

Virat Kohli's form remains a concern. During the IPL 2022 edition, he achieved an unwanted feat of going over 100 matches across formats without a century. While Kohli scored his first half-century for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their tenth outing this season, he only managed a 53-ball 58.

Virat Kohli's form remains a concern. During the IPL 2022 edition, he achieved an unwanted feat of going over 100 matches across formats without a century. While Kohli scored his first half-century for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their tenth outing this season, he only managed a 53-ball 58. Even in RCB's reverse fixture versus the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Kohli returned with an unimpressive 33-ball 30. As his struggle for runs continues, the whole of the Indian cricket fraternity is concerned by King Kohli's barren run. His last international ton came in late 2019 and at present, he is looking far from his usual best. Amid all this, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri had advised him to pull out of IPL 15 and take a much-needed break. Now, former Indian chief selector MSK Prasad has also joined the bandwagon and asked Kohli to take a significant rest to return completely fresh before the Asia Cup. ALSO READ | Mr. 360 AB de Villiers turns to golf, to team up with Australia's ex-tennis star Ashleigh Barty in Icon Series Further, MSK also called for KL Rahul to be tried at No. 4 in T20Is with Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma opening the innings. "These three are indispensable if fit. There is no way that you can leave anyone of them for the World T20. But yes, if I look at numbers, I might just try someone like Shikhar Dhawan at the opening slot and check Rahul out at No.4. He has a T20 hundred in Manchester some years back in middle-order, so why not. But yes, I want Virat to take a significant break and before the Asia Cup, he should be fresh, up and running," Prasad told PTI. It remains to be seen if Kohli takes a break in the near future. At present, it seems highly unlikely given that Faf du Plessis-led RCB haven't cemented a place in the playoffs in this year's IPL season. Given that India will play the T20 World Cup, to be held in Australia later this year, Kohli's form is extremely critical to the Men in Blue's chances in the showpiece event.

Want him to take significant break before Asia Cup, says MSK Prasad amid Virat Kohli's poor form

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locked horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04). The match was held at the MCA Stadium, Pune where RCB emerged on top by 13 runs with the playoffs race intensifying with each passing day.&nbsp;

Opting to bowl first, the MS Dhoni-led CSK restricted RCB to 173-8, riding on regular wickets from spinners Moeen Ali and Maheesh Theekshana. In reply, the four-time winners and defending champions Yellow Army had top-scorers in the form of Devon Conway (56) and Moeen (34) but they managed 160 for 8 in another hard-fought contest in the 15th season. With this, CSK is nearing an early exit from the competition.

Here's the updated points table after RCB-CSK clash at the MCA Stadium, Pune:

<img alt="Points Table after CSK-RCB clash" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="af5bd2ec-278d-4ba0-874c-0425f24b4372" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/PT%20after%20RCB%20beat%20CSK.png" />

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At the post-match presentation, winning captain Du Plessis said, "We definitely needed that. We put up a decent total. We are moving in the right direction. We have been very good in the bowling departmet. I thought 165 would be nice to get. I thought the PP was a good time to score. The fielding was amazing. Some great catching and good bowling indeed. We are very lucky to have experienced guys. Very good to have me lean on the senior players."

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locked horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04). The match was held at the MCA Stadium, Pune where RCB emerged on top by 13 runs with the playoffs race intensifying with each passing day.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) locked horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04). The match was held at the MCA Stadium, Pune where RCB emerged on top by 13 runs with the playoffs race intensifying with each passing day. Opting to bowl first, the MS Dhoni-led CSK restricted RCB to 173-8, riding on regular wickets from spinners Moeen Ali and Maheesh Theekshana. In reply, the four-time winners and defending champions Yellow Army had top-scorers in the form of Devon Conway (56) and Moeen (34) but they managed 160 for 8 in another hard-fought contest in the 15th season. With this, CSK is nearing an early exit from the competition. Here's the updated points table after RCB-CSK clash at the MCA Stadium, Pune: ALSO READ | IPL 2022: RCB beat MS Dhoni-led CSK by 13 runs as defending champions near elimination At the post-match presentation, winning captain Du Plessis said, "We definitely needed that. We put up a decent total. We are moving in the right direction. We have been very good in the bowling departmet. I thought 165 would be nice to get. I thought the PP was a good time to score. The fielding was amazing. Some great catching and good bowling indeed. We are very lucky to have experienced guys. Very good to have me lean on the senior players."

Updated IPL 2022 points table after Chennai Super Kings versus Royal Challengers Bangalore clash

Match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on their close rivals Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (May 04). Being in a precarious situation with the playoffs race heating up, both sides were in need of a win before RCB eventually emerged on top by 13 runs.&nbsp;

At the coin toss, CSK won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper MS Dhoni unlocked another major milestone in his staggering IPL career to become only the second player to play 200 matches for a single franchise (after Virat Kohli). RCB openers Faf and Kohli started off a bit slowly but&nbsp;stitched an impressive 62-run opening stand within 8 overs before skipper Faf was removed by his former teammate Moeen Ali. Moeen, who replaced Mitchell Santner, also picked up the wicket of Virat Kohli. Kohli never got going throughout his innings as he only managed a 33-ball 30.

From thereon, RCB young guns Mahipal Lomror (42)&nbsp;and Rajat Patidar started the recovery process. The duo added a valuable 44-run stand for the fourth wicket as the big guns Faf, Kohli and Glenn Maxwell had perished soon.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-csk-skipper-ms-dhoni-joins-virat-kohli-to-become-second-player-to-enter-special-200-club-476388">IPL 2022: CSK skipper MS Dhoni joins Virat Kohli to become second player to enter special 200-club</a>

For CSK, their spinners Moeen Ali (2 for 28) and Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana (3 for 27) changed the course of RCB's innings with regular scalps. Ravindra Jadeja also kept it tight from his end but some runs off Dwaine Pretorius and Dinesh Karthik's 17-ball 26 propelled RCB to 173-8 in 20 overs.&nbsp;

In reply, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway (56) ensured a good start for the four-time winners and defending champions. Ruturaj, playing once again on his home ground, looked in good touch but Shahbad Ahmed sent him back for a 23-ball 28. Conway continued from his end but lost the support of Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa as RCB spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maxwell chipped in with regular breakthroughs. Harshal Patel (3 for 35) and Josh Hazlewood (1 for 19)&nbsp;ended proceedings in RCB's favour by&nbsp;bowling&nbsp;impressively in the death overs.

The likes of Rayudu, Uthappa and Jadeja not firing let down CSK despite them being in control for most parts. With this loss, Dhoni &amp; Co. is nearing an early exit as RCB enters the top 4 (12 points).

Match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on their close rivals Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (May 04).

Match 49 of the IPL 2022 edition saw the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) take on their close rivals Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Wednesday evening (May 04). Being in a precarious situation with the playoffs race heating up, both sides were in need of a win before RCB eventually emerged on top by 13 runs. At the coin toss, CSK won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper MS Dhoni unlocked another major milestone in his staggering IPL career to become only the second player to play 200 matches for a single franchise (after Virat Kohli). RCB openers Faf and Kohli started off a bit slowly but stitched an impressive 62-run opening stand within 8 overs before skipper Faf was removed by his former teammate Moeen Ali. Moeen, who replaced Mitchell Santner, also picked up the wicket of Virat Kohli. Kohli never got going throughout his innings as he only managed a 33-ball 30. From thereon, RCB young guns Mahipal Lomror (42) and Rajat Patidar started the recovery process. The duo added a valuable 44-run stand for the fourth wicket as the big guns Faf, Kohli and Glenn Maxwell had perished soon. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: CSK skipper MS Dhoni joins Virat Kohli to become second player to enter special 200-club For CSK, their spinners Moeen Ali (2 for 28) and Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana (3 for 27) changed the course of RCB's innings with regular scalps. Ravindra Jadeja also kept it tight from his end but some runs off Dwaine Pretorius and Dinesh Karthik's 17-ball 26 propelled RCB to 173-8 in 20 overs. In reply, CSK openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway (56) ensured a good start for the four-time winners and defending champions. Ruturaj, playing once again on his home ground, looked in good touch but Shahbad Ahmed sent him back for a 23-ball 28. Conway continued from his end but lost the support of Ambati Rayudu and Robin Uthappa as RCB spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maxwell chipped in with regular breakthroughs. Harshal Patel (3 for 35) and Josh Hazlewood (1 for 19) ended proceedings in RCB's favour by bowling impressively in the death overs. The likes of Rayudu, Uthappa and Jadeja not firing let down CSK despite them being in control for most parts. With this loss, Dhoni & Co. is nearing an early exit as RCB enters the top 4 (12 points).

IPL 2022: RCB beat MS Dhoni-led CSK by 13 runs as defending champions near elimination

MS Dhoni-starrer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have locked horns with the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04) at the MCA Stadium, Pune.&nbsp;

The four-time winners and defending champions' skipper Dhoni unlocked a major milestone as he stepped on&nbsp;the field during the coin toss. The 40-year-old Dhoni became only the second player after RCB's former skipper Virat Kohli to play 200 matches for a single franchise in IPL history. While Kohli has only represented the RCB franchise all throughout the IPL, Dhoni also played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in 2016-17. Overall, he is playing his 230th&nbsp;IPL match on Wednesday evening.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-people-havent-understood-captain-ms-dhoni-in-15-years-no-point-explaining-ajay-jadeja-476343">If people haven’t understood captain MS Dhoni in 15 years, no point explaining: Ajay Jadeja</a>

At the coin toss, Dhoni-led CSK opted to bowl first as the Chennai captain opined, "We will bowl first. It stops a bit initially. And it's one of the venues where toss doesn't matter much because it's an open ground so the dew sets in pretty late. We are a side set for both ways (bat or bowl first). But it's important to play good cricket on the day. We will look to chase today. One change, in place of Santner we have Moeen."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-want-to-pick-kohlis-energy-dhonis-finishing-skills-and-rohits-stroke-making-lalit-yadav-476290">EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav</a>

Overall, Dhoni has amassed a whopping 4,866 runs in IPL, out of which 4,312 have come for the Yellow Army.&nbsp;

Talking about&nbsp;match 49 so far, CSK have restricted RCB to 173-8&nbsp;in 20 overs. They need to win all their remaining games to stand a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

MS Dhoni-starrer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have locked horns with the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04) at the MCA Stadium, Pune.

MS Dhoni-starrer Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have locked horns with the Faf du Plessis-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in match 49 of IPL 2022 edition, on Wednesday evening (May 04) at the MCA Stadium, Pune. The four-time winners and defending champions' skipper Dhoni unlocked a major milestone as he stepped on the field during the coin toss. The 40-year-old Dhoni became only the second player after RCB's former skipper Virat Kohli to play 200 matches for a single franchise in IPL history. While Kohli has only represented the RCB franchise all throughout the IPL, Dhoni also played for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in 2016-17. Overall, he is playing his 230th IPL match on Wednesday evening. ALSO READ | If people haven’t understood captain MS Dhoni in 15 years, no point explaining: Ajay Jadeja At the coin toss, Dhoni-led CSK opted to bowl first as the Chennai captain opined, "We will bowl first. It stops a bit initially. And it's one of the venues where toss doesn't matter much because it's an open ground so the dew sets in pretty late. We are a side set for both ways (bat or bowl first). But it's important to play good cricket on the day. We will look to chase today. One change, in place of Santner we have Moeen." ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav Overall, Dhoni has amassed a whopping 4,866 runs in IPL, out of which 4,312 have come for the Yellow Army. Talking about match 49 so far, CSK have restricted RCB to 173-8 in 20 overs. They need to win all their remaining games to stand a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

IPL 2022: CSK skipper MS Dhoni joins Virat Kohli to become second player to enter special 200-club

Virat Kohli not only remains the face of Indian cricket team but the 33-year-old is also an IPL legend. The superstar right-hander is the leading run-getter in IPL history, with 6,411 runs under his belt. While he has not won an IPL title as yet, he is an absolute superstar for his franchise, i.e. the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).

Kohli remains the only player to have represented a single franchise throughout the IPL, since its inception in 2008. The former Indian captain wasn't an instant hit in the cash-rich league, however, he came to his very best since IPL 2012 and has churned out runs at will for the franchise, also helping them reach the IPL 2016 final in his leadership.

Recently, Kohli opened up on his bond with the RCB franchise. The cricketer revealed that he has been offered attractive deals by other franchises and he himself was tempted to enter the IPL auction pool, however, his understanding and equation with the franchise has just grown over the years.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-want-to-pick-kohlis-energy-dhonis-finishing-skills-and-rohits-stroke-making-lalit-yadav-476290">EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav</a>

"To be very honest, I thought about it. Yes, I won't shy away from it and I have been approached many times as well to come into the auction somehow, put my name there and stuff. And then I thought about it, I was like, at the end of the day, everyone has X numbers of years that they live and then you die and life moves on. There would have been many great people who won trophies but no one addresses you like that. No one addresses you in the room like 'Oh he's an IPL champion or he's a World Cup champion."

"It's like if you are a good person, people like you, if you're a bad guy, they just stay away from you and, eventually, that's what life is all about," Kohli said on the 'Inside RCB' show on Star Sports

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-do-not-become-a-bad-player-overnight-ab-de-viliers-on-virat-kohlis-rough-patch-for-rcb-in-ipl-2022-476312">'You do not become a bad player overnight': AB de Viliers on Virat Kohli's rough patch for RCB in IPL 2022</a>

"For me, the understanding that loyalty with RCB, like how I follow my life, is far greater for me than the fact that five people in the room will say, oh finally, you win the IPL with whoever xyz. You feel good for five minutes, but then sixth minute you could be miserable with some other issues in life. So it is not the end of the world for me,” Kohli added.

Kohli will be desperate to end RCB's title-drought in this year's IPL season. So far, RCB have played ten games in the 15th season, winning and losing five each.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli not only remains the face of Indian cricket team but the 33-year-old is also an IPL legend. The superstar right-hander is the leading run-getter in IPL history, with 6,411 runs under his belt.

Virat Kohli not only remains the face of Indian cricket team but the 33-year-old is also an IPL legend. The superstar right-hander is the leading run-getter in IPL history, with 6,411 runs under his belt. While he has not won an IPL title as yet, he is an absolute superstar for his franchise, i.e. the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Kohli remains the only player to have represented a single franchise throughout the IPL, since its inception in 2008. The former Indian captain wasn't an instant hit in the cash-rich league, however, he came to his very best since IPL 2012 and has churned out runs at will for the franchise, also helping them reach the IPL 2016 final in his leadership. Recently, Kohli opened up on his bond with the RCB franchise. The cricketer revealed that he has been offered attractive deals by other franchises and he himself was tempted to enter the IPL auction pool, however, his understanding and equation with the franchise has just grown over the years. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav "To be very honest, I thought about it. Yes, I won't shy away from it and I have been approached many times as well to come into the auction somehow, put my name there and stuff. And then I thought about it, I was like, at the end of the day, everyone has X numbers of years that they live and then you die and life moves on. There would have been many great people who won trophies but no one addresses you like that. No one addresses you in the room like 'Oh he's an IPL champion or he's a World Cup champion." "It's like if you are a good person, people like you, if you're a bad guy, they just stay away from you and, eventually, that's what life is all about," Kohli said on the 'Inside RCB' show on Star Sports ALSO READ | 'You do not become a bad player overnight': AB de Viliers on Virat Kohli's rough patch for RCB in IPL 2022 "For me, the understanding that loyalty with RCB, like how I follow my life, is far greater for me than the fact that five people in the room will say, oh finally, you win the IPL with whoever xyz. You feel good for five minutes, but then sixth minute you could be miserable with some other issues in life. So it is not the end of the world for me,” Kohli added. Kohli will be desperate to end RCB's title-drought in this year's IPL season. So far, RCB have played ten games in the 15th season, winning and losing five each.

I've been approached many times to come into the auction: Virat Kohli opens up on loyalty with RCB

Virat Kohli bounced back to form with a gritty half-century in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s last game against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, Kohli's scoring rate was still a concern as he notched up 58 runs off 53 balls at 109.43 with RCB losing the game by six wickets.

The expectations were high from Kohli heading into the season and the RCB superstar was expected to go all guns blazing for his side. However, it has been a below-par campaign for the batting maestro, who has struggled for consistency and has failed to get off to good starts with the willow.

Former RCB star and Kohli's good friend AB de Villiers recently gave his take on the run machine's struggles in IPL 2022. De Villiers believes a batter is only two poor knocks away from bad form and it's all about mindset when someone is looking to bounce back.

"As a batsman, you are only one or two bad knocks away from bad form. If it keeps coming at you it is difficult to bounce back from it," De Villiers told AFP.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/exclusive-want-to-pick-kohlis-energy-dhonis-finishing-skills-and-rohits-stroke-making-lalit-yadav-476290">EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav</a>

The South African legend also pointed out how a batter cannot become bad overnight and that there will be no better person than Kohli himself to analyse his weaknesses and work on them to get better.&nbsp;

"You do not become a bad player overnight. Virat would know it and I know it. I think it's the way you think and set your mind. You need a clear mind and fresh energy whenever you play and then you can find a way out of a hole," De Villiers added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-on-cusp-of-twin-milestones-as-csk-gear-up-to-face-faf-du-plessis-led-rcb-in-ipl-2022-476298">MS Dhoni on cusp of twin milestones as CSK gear up to face Faf du Plessis-led RCB in IPL 2022</a>

After getting back among the runs with a fifty against Gujarat Titans, Kohli will be hopeful of nothing up another big knock when RCB lock horns with MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday (May 04).

Virat Kohli bounced back to form with a gritty half-century in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s last game against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

Virat Kohli bounced back to form with a gritty half-century in Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s last game against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. However, Kohli's scoring rate was still a concern as he notched up 58 runs off 53 balls at 109.43 with RCB losing the game by six wickets. The expectations were high from Kohli heading into the season and the RCB superstar was expected to go all guns blazing for his side. However, it has been a below-par campaign for the batting maestro, who has struggled for consistency and has failed to get off to good starts with the willow. Former RCB star and Kohli's good friend AB de Villiers recently gave his take on the run machine's struggles in IPL 2022. De Villiers believes a batter is only two poor knocks away from bad form and it's all about mindset when someone is looking to bounce back. "As a batsman, you are only one or two bad knocks away from bad form. If it keeps coming at you it is difficult to bounce back from it," De Villiers told AFP. Also Read: EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav The South African legend also pointed out how a batter cannot become bad overnight and that there will be no better person than Kohli himself to analyse his weaknesses and work on them to get better. "You do not become a bad player overnight. Virat would know it and I know it. I think it's the way you think and set your mind. You need a clear mind and fresh energy whenever you play and then you can find a way out of a hole," De Villiers added. Also Read: MS Dhoni on cusp of twin milestones as CSK gear up to face Faf du Plessis-led RCB in IPL 2022 After getting back among the runs with a fifty against Gujarat Titans, Kohli will be hopeful of nothing up another big knock when RCB lock horns with MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Wednesday (May 04).

'You do not become a bad player overnight': AB de Villiers on Virat Kohli's rough patch for RCB in IPL 2022

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh opened up on India's ICC title-drought since 2013. While Team India last lifted an ICC trophy in 2013 Champions Trophy, under MS Dhoni's leadership, they have come close in many following mega events only to fall short in the knockouts or finals.&nbsp;

Talking about India's 2019 ODI World Cup run, the Virat Kohli-led side were favourites for the marquee event in England and Wales. While they topped the round-robin stage, they were eliminated in the semi-finals with an 18-run defeat at the hands of eventual runners-up New Zealand. In the last year's T20 World Cup, Kohli &amp; Co. never found any momentum in their opening two games and despite winning their last three clashes, India bowed out of the tournament in the Super 12 round.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-cant-see-anyone-captain-csk-effectively-and-efficiently-after-ms-dhoni-says-ex-aussie-spinner-476309">I can't see anyone captain CSK effectively and efficiently after MS Dhoni, says ex-Aussie spinner</a>

Hence, Yuvraj -- who was the Player-of-the-Tournament in India's 2011 ODI World Cup success -- shared his take on where India went wrong and why they failed in the last two ICC events. “When we won the World Cup (2011), we all had a set position to bat. I felt 2019 World Cup; they didn’t plan it well,” Yuvraj said on Sports18’s Home of Heroes.

“They got Vijay Shankar to bat at #4 with just 5-7 ODIs, then they replaced him with&nbsp;Rishabh Pant, who had played 4 ODIs. When we played the 2003 World Cup, Mohd. Kaif, (Dinesh) Mongia and I had already played 50-odd ODIs,” Yuvraj added.

Dwelling on last edition of the T20 WC, Yuvi opined, "Our middle-order (batsmen) in T20 bats higher in franchise cricket. That is where we lacked in the last T20 World Cup."

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-got-support-from-virat-kohli-ravi-shastri-yuvraj-singh-rues-lack-of-backing-for-omission-475753">MS Dhoni got support from Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri: Yuvraj Singh rues lack of backing for omission</a>

Rohit Sharma-led India will be eager to move past their 2021 T20 WC failures and go the distance in this year's edition, which is set to be held in Australia later this year. At present, India is the No. 1 ranked team in the latest ICC T20I rankings and, thus, will be confident of turning the tides in their favour in this year's edition Down Under.
</section>

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh opened up on India's ICC title-drought since 2013. While Team India last lifted an ICC trophy in 2013 Champions Trophy, under MS Dhoni's leadership, they have come close in many following mega events only to fall short in the knockouts or finals.

Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh opened up on India's ICC title-drought since 2013. While Team India last lifted an ICC trophy in 2013 Champions Trophy, under MS Dhoni's leadership, they have come close in many following mega events only to fall short in the knockouts or finals. Talking about India's 2019 ODI World Cup run, the Virat Kohli-led side were favourites for the marquee event in England and Wales. While they topped the round-robin stage, they were eliminated in the semi-finals with an 18-run defeat at the hands of eventual runners-up New Zealand. In the last year's T20 World Cup, Kohli & Co. never found any momentum in their opening two games and despite winning their last three clashes, India bowed out of the tournament in the Super 12 round. ALSO READ | I can't see anyone captain CSK effectively and efficiently after MS Dhoni, says ex-Aussie spinner Hence, Yuvraj -- who was the Player-of-the-Tournament in India's 2011 ODI World Cup success -- shared his take on where India went wrong and why they failed in the last two ICC events. “When we won the World Cup (2011), we all had a set position to bat. I felt 2019 World Cup; they didn’t plan it well,” Yuvraj said on Sports18’s Home of Heroes. “They got Vijay Shankar to bat at #4 with just 5-7 ODIs, then they replaced him with Rishabh Pant, who had played 4 ODIs. When we played the 2003 World Cup, Mohd. Kaif, (Dinesh) Mongia and I had already played 50-odd ODIs,” Yuvraj added. Dwelling on last edition of the T20 WC, Yuvi opined, "Our middle-order (batsmen) in T20 bats higher in franchise cricket. That is where we lacked in the last T20 World Cup." ALSO READ | MS Dhoni got support from Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri: Yuvraj Singh rues lack of backing for omission Rohit Sharma-led India will be eager to move past their 2021 T20 WC failures and go the distance in this year's edition, which is set to be held in Australia later this year. At present, India is the No. 1 ranked team in the latest ICC T20I rankings and, thus, will be confident of turning the tides in their favour in this year's edition Down Under.

That's where they lacked: Yuvraj Singh explains why India failed in last two ICC tournaments

Lalit Yadav became a part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) since IPL 2020. While last year, he featured in almost half of the games for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp, the all-rounder has been a regular in the DC playing XI in IPL 2022.

The 25-year-old Lalit has also chipped in with handy contributions with both bat and ball. With the willow, he has had a few starts and was one of the main protagonists in DC's four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 15 season-opener. At present, he averages at over 25 and has also scalped four wickets. Overall, he has an economy&nbsp;rate of&nbsp;7.90.

As the Delhi cricketer is learning the ropes in the star-studded DC franchise, Lalit interacted with WION's Aditya Sahay and dwelled on several aspects of his game, such as working closely with DC head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Shane Watson, captain Rishabh Pant. In addition, he heaped praise on his inspiration Virender Sehwag and the famed trio -- Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-umran-malik-to-ayush-badoni-young-guns-who-have-taken-ipl-2022-by-storm-475810">From Umran Malik to Ayush Badoni: Young Indian stars who have taken IPL 2022 by storm</a>

DC have trusted you a lot over the years. How has it been working with Ricky Ponting and being led by a youngster like Rishabh Pant?

The coach and captain trust me a lot. This helps in one's growth and there is no room for any self-doubt. So, the individual only thinks about his abilities and goes out to perform freely. When a youngster&nbsp;comes into a team, he, or she,&nbsp;always wants to make a mark and impress the captain coach. But if they back and&nbsp;trust your abilities, your work is done. You then&nbsp;tend to enjoy the process.&nbsp;

You've been a handy batter at the top or middle order and can also&nbsp;bowl a few vital overs when required. Where do you think Delhi relies on you the most? Talk about your role within the team...

It's not like Delhi depends or relies on me in one particular department. I want to contribute in any way possible and in every department. Be it batting, bowling, or fielding. The team management has trusted me in different situations and in varied roles. That is a big confidence booster in itself. I've bowled in powerplays or slog overs. If early wickets have fallen, I often get promoted or sometimes also play the role of a slogger. Overall, whenever and wherever the team needs me, I am there (smiles).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-behind-kuldeep-yadavs-comeback-virat-preferred-axar-patel-says-dc-spinners-childhood-coach-475722">Rohit behind Kuldeep Yadav's comeback, Virat preferred Axar Patel, says DC spinner's childhood coach</a>

You've been inspired by Virender Sehwag a lot. What is the one&nbsp;specific aspect&nbsp;that you want to learn after seeing his game?

It's not that I want to replicate something from Virender Sehwag. However, I'm a big fan of his. Hope I can also learn to hit the big shots so nonchalantly against the spinners and even pacers as he did.&nbsp;

From whatever you've&nbsp;seen and observed in MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, what is that one quality that you will pick&nbsp;from the trio and add to your game?

Virat Kohli's&nbsp;aggression and energy, MS Dhoni's match-finishing skills and calmness and Rohit Sharma's effortless stroke-making...He hits them with ease and at will. So, I'll want to take all these qualities and add to my game.&nbsp;

How has Shane Watson helped you in your batting? Do you talk with him about the different requirements of batting at different positions? Tell us about your interactions with the Aussie...

Shane Watson is a legend of the game. With him,&nbsp;he often shares incidents and stories from his playing days -- how he used to approach different situations and how his thought process was during his good and bad days. This is a sport. We all will have more bad days than good ones. So, all these things.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, he emphasises and talks about the mental aspect of the game.

Lalit Yadav became a part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) since IPL 2020. While last year, he featured in almost half of the games for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp, the all-rounder has been a regular in the DC playing XI in IPL 2022.

Lalit Yadav became a part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) since IPL 2020. While last year, he featured in almost half of the games for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi camp, the all-rounder has been a regular in the DC playing XI in IPL 2022. The 25-year-old Lalit has also chipped in with handy contributions with both bat and ball. With the willow, he has had a few starts and was one of the main protagonists in DC's four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their IPL 15 season-opener. At present, he averages at over 25 and has also scalped four wickets. Overall, he has an economy rate of 7.90. As the Delhi cricketer is learning the ropes in the star-studded DC franchise, Lalit interacted with WION's Aditya Sahay and dwelled on several aspects of his game, such as working closely with DC head coach Ricky Ponting, assistant coach Shane Watson, captain Rishabh Pant. In addition, he heaped praise on his inspiration Virender Sehwag and the famed trio -- Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma. ALSO READ | From Umran Malik to Ayush Badoni: Young Indian stars who have taken IPL 2022 by storm DC have trusted you a lot over the years. How has it been working with Ricky Ponting and being led by a youngster like Rishabh Pant? The coach and captain trust me a lot. This helps in one's growth and there is no room for any self-doubt. So, the individual only thinks about his abilities and goes out to perform freely. When a youngster comes into a team, he, or she, always wants to make a mark and impress the captain coach. But if they back and trust your abilities, your work is done. You then tend to enjoy the process. You've been a handy batter at the top or middle order and can also bowl a few vital overs when required. Where do you think Delhi relies on you the most? Talk about your role within the team... It's not like Delhi depends or relies on me in one particular department. I want to contribute in any way possible and in every department. Be it batting, bowling, or fielding. The team management has trusted me in different situations and in varied roles. That is a big confidence booster in itself. I've bowled in powerplays or slog overs. If early wickets have fallen, I often get promoted or sometimes also play the role of a slogger. Overall, whenever and wherever the team needs me, I am there (smiles). ALSO READ | Rohit behind Kuldeep Yadav's comeback, Virat preferred Axar Patel, says DC spinner's childhood coach You've been inspired by Virender Sehwag a lot. What is the one specific aspect that you want to learn after seeing his game? It's not that I want to replicate something from Virender Sehwag. However, I'm a big fan of his. Hope I can also learn to hit the big shots so nonchalantly against the spinners and even pacers as he did. From whatever you've seen and observed in MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, what is that one quality that you will pick from the trio and add to your game? Virat Kohli's aggression and energy, MS Dhoni's match-finishing skills and calmness and Rohit Sharma's effortless stroke-making...He hits them with ease and at will. So, I'll want to take all these qualities and add to my game. How has Shane Watson helped you in your batting? Do you talk with him about the different requirements of batting at different positions? Tell us about your interactions with the Aussie... Shane Watson is a legend of the game. With him, he often shares incidents and stories from his playing days -- how he used to approach different situations and how his thought process was during his good and bad days. This is a sport. We all will have more bad days than good ones. So, all these things. Also, he emphasises and talks about the mental aspect of the game.

EXCLUSIVE | Want to pick Kohli's aggression, Dhoni's finishing skills and Rohit's stroke-making: Lalit Yadav

Virat Kohli has endured a lean patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he has struggled to get going with the bat. Despite having notched up a couple of good scores, Kohli has looked far from his best for his side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) this season.

However, the Indian run-machine bounced back to form with a gritty half-century in RCB's last outing against Gujarat Titans. Opening the innings, Kohli scored 58 off 53 balls to help RCB post a fighting total of 170 runs on the board but Faf du Plessis &amp; Co. lost the game after sensational cameos from Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia in GT's run-chase.

Kohli, who is often regarded as one of the best batters of all time, has been backed by many to soon return to the top of his game amid his poor patch. Recently, former England cricket team captain Kevin Pietersen compared Kohli with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and explained how they both are like similar brands in their respective teams.

Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and continues to be one of the most prolific goal-scorers in world football despite being 37. The Manchester United superstar has shown no signs of slowing down despite his growing age and continues to be a game-changer for his club and country.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-got-support-from-virat-kohli-ravi-shastri-yuvraj-singh-rues-lack-of-backing-for-omission-475753">MS Dhoni got support from Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri: Yuvraj Singh rues lack of backing for omission</a>

While talking about how Kohli needs to continue his rhythm after his morale-boosting half-century against GT, Pietersen urged the RCB star to look at Ronaldo.&nbsp;

"What he needs to do is to have a look at Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two similar brands in their different teams and in their sports. You have Virat&nbsp;Kohli right at the top of cricket, his brand is right at the top of cricket.

Cristiano Ronaldo is right at the top of football. One plays for Manchester United, and one plays for RCB and India. Those are big brands and they are going to be talking points. Those big brands also want to maintain their status in the game by winning," Pietersen said on Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/better-to-calm-down-maintain-limits-ex-pakistan-captain-on-useless-comparisons-between-ipl-and-psl-475759">'Better to calm down &amp; maintain limits': Ex-Pakistan captain on 'useless' comparisons between IPL and PSL</a>

Furthr lauding Kohli, Pietersen called his pedigree in run-chases as his greatest attribute and also hailed the RCB stalwart as the greatest batter India has ever produced. It is a huge compliment from Piteresen for Kohli as India has produced several batting legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among others.

"Virat Kohli's greatest attribute, how many games he has won for India while chasing. Virat Kohli is my greatest batter in this country because he has won so many games for India chasing. That is something you look at, that is something he cherishes and is so proud of," Pietersen said.

Virat Kohli has endured a lean patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he has struggled to get going with the bat. Despite having notched up a couple of good scores, Kohli has looked far from his best for his side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) this season.

Virat Kohli has endured a lean patch in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as he has struggled to get going with the bat. Despite having notched up a couple of good scores, Kohli has looked far from his best for his side Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) this season. However, the Indian run-machine bounced back to form with a gritty half-century in RCB's last outing against Gujarat Titans. Opening the innings, Kohli scored 58 off 53 balls to help RCB post a fighting total of 170 runs on the board but Faf du Plessis & Co. lost the game after sensational cameos from Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia in GT's run-chase. Kohli, who is often regarded as one of the best batters of all time, has been backed by many to soon return to the top of his game amid his poor patch. Recently, former England cricket team captain Kevin Pietersen compared Kohli with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and explained how they both are like similar brands in their respective teams. Ronaldo is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and continues to be one of the most prolific goal-scorers in world football despite being 37. The Manchester United superstar has shown no signs of slowing down despite his growing age and continues to be a game-changer for his club and country. Also Read: MS Dhoni got support from Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri: Yuvraj Singh rues lack of backing for omission While talking about how Kohli needs to continue his rhythm after his morale-boosting half-century against GT, Pietersen urged the RCB star to look at Ronaldo. "What he needs to do is to have a look at Manchester United and Cristiano Ronaldo. Two similar brands in their different teams and in their sports. You have Virat Kohli right at the top of cricket, his brand is right at the top of cricket. Cristiano Ronaldo is right at the top of football. One plays for Manchester United, and one plays for RCB and India. Those are big brands and they are going to be talking points. Those big brands also want to maintain their status in the game by winning," Pietersen said on Star Sports. Also Read: 'Better to calm down & maintain limits': Ex-Pakistan captain on 'useless' comparisons between IPL and PSL Furthr lauding Kohli, Pietersen called his pedigree in run-chases as his greatest attribute and also hailed the RCB stalwart as the greatest batter India has ever produced. It is a huge compliment from Piteresen for Kohli as India has produced several batting legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar among others. "Virat Kohli's greatest attribute, how many games he has won for India while chasing. Virat Kohli is my greatest batter in this country because he has won so many games for India chasing. That is something you look at, that is something he cherishes and is so proud of," Pietersen said.

Kevin Pietersen compares Virat Kohli with Cristiano Ronaldo, calls him India's 'greatest batter'

Yuvraj Singh has had a stellar career for Team India. He represented the national side in 2000 and went onto play till late 2017 before announcing his retirement in 2019. Yuvraj&nbsp;ended his international career with 1,900, 8,701 and 1,177 Test, ODI and T20I runs, respectively. In addition, he claimed as many as&nbsp;148 international scalps.&nbsp;

Yuvraj also played a key role in India's triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, under MS Dhoni's captaincy. Nonetheless, his career didn't reach another level despite the success enjoyed in 2011's showpiece event. While he fought cancer and returned on the field, he endured some tough moments on the pitch.

Yuvraj was severely criticised for his 21-ball 11 in India's 2014 T20 World Cup final defeat versus Sri Lanka, in Bangladesh. Thus, the former all-rounder opened up on his much-criticised knock and also stated that many former players didn't get a lot of support during the end of their careers, unlike MS Dhoni.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-singh-reveals-why-he-couldnt-sleep-before-his-international-debut-versus-australia-474924">Yuvraj Singh reveals why he couldn't sleep before his international debut versus Australia</a>

Speaking on Home of Heroes on Sports18, Yuvraj recalled being low on confidence during the T20 WC in 2014 and having the fear of being dropped. "During the T20 World Cup in 2014, I was very low on confidence. There was an atmosphere that I could get dropped. It’s not an excuse but I wasn’t getting enough support from the team. From the time of Gary, I was in Duncan’s era and things had completely changed in the team," Yuvraj said.

"Definitely when you have support from the coach and the captain it helps. Look at Mahi (MS Dhoni) towards the end of his career. He had so much support from Virat and Ravi Shastri. They took him to the World Cup, he played till the end, and went on to play 350 games. I think support is very important but in Indian cricket everybody will not get support," he opined.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/you-dont-want-him-to-feel-that-captaincy-was-ms-dhoni-on-ravindra-jadeja-quitting-as-csk-skipper-475646">'You don't want him to feel that captaincy was...': MS Dhoni on Ravindra Jadeja quitting as CSK skipper</a>

"There have been great players like Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir who didn’t get that (support). When you are batting out there and you know that the axe is hanging on your head how will you concentrate and bat and give your best. It is not an excuse but with different coaches and after 2011 times are very different," Yuvraj&nbsp;added.

Yuvraj still remains one of the greatest white-ball players for Team India. He also contributed in crunch moments with the ball in hand and was a pinch-hitter, especially during his early days.

Yuvraj Singh has had a stellar career for Team India. He represented the national side in 2000 and went onto play till late 2017 before announcing his retirement in 2019.

Yuvraj Singh has had a stellar career for Team India. He represented the national side in 2000 and went onto play till late 2017 before announcing his retirement in 2019. Yuvraj ended his international career with 1,900, 8,701 and 1,177 Test, ODI and T20I runs, respectively. In addition, he claimed as many as 148 international scalps. Yuvraj also played a key role in India's triumph in the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup, under MS Dhoni's captaincy. Nonetheless, his career didn't reach another level despite the success enjoyed in 2011's showpiece event. While he fought cancer and returned on the field, he endured some tough moments on the pitch. Yuvraj was severely criticised for his 21-ball 11 in India's 2014 T20 World Cup final defeat versus Sri Lanka, in Bangladesh. Thus, the former all-rounder opened up on his much-criticised knock and also stated that many former players didn't get a lot of support during the end of their careers, unlike MS Dhoni. ALSO READ | Yuvraj Singh reveals why he couldn't sleep before his international debut versus Australia Speaking on Home of Heroes on Sports18, Yuvraj recalled being low on confidence during the T20 WC in 2014 and having the fear of being dropped. "During the T20 World Cup in 2014, I was very low on confidence. There was an atmosphere that I could get dropped. It’s not an excuse but I wasn’t getting enough support from the team. From the time of Gary, I was in Duncan’s era and things had completely changed in the team," Yuvraj said. "Definitely when you have support from the coach and the captain it helps. Look at Mahi (MS Dhoni) towards the end of his career. He had so much support from Virat and Ravi Shastri. They took him to the World Cup, he played till the end, and went on to play 350 games. I think support is very important but in Indian cricket everybody will not get support," he opined. ALSO READ | 'You don't want him to feel that captaincy was...': MS Dhoni on Ravindra Jadeja quitting as CSK skipper "There have been great players like Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Gautam Gambhir who didn’t get that (support). When you are batting out there and you know that the axe is hanging on your head how will you concentrate and bat and give your best. It is not an excuse but with different coaches and after 2011 times are very different," Yuvraj added. Yuvraj still remains one of the greatest white-ball players for Team India. He also contributed in crunch moments with the ball in hand and was a pinch-hitter, especially during his early days.

MS Dhoni got support from Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri: Yuvraj Singh rues lack of backing for omission

Kuldeep Yadav has made heads turn in IPL 2022. After struggling for form and regular appearances since early 2019, for Team India and also his previous franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the 27-year-old wrist spinner has come to his own in his new IPL franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals (DC).

So far, Kuldeep has won Player-of-the-Match on all four occasions Rishabh Pant &amp; Co. have won a game in the 15th season. As a result, Kuldeep occupies the second spot in the Purple Cap list, with second-most scalps (17). His comeback is nothing short of a fairytale, after falling down in the pecking order for both KKR and India (across formats).

Reflecting on his student's current form, Kuldeep's childhood coach His coach &nbsp;Kapil Dev Pandey feels Indian captain Rohit Sharma should be credited for trusting the spinner during the West Indies home series where Kuldeep performed and that raised his confidence. "Whenever captains trusted him, Kuldeep delivered. He has a good record in Tests. He has two hat-tricks in ODIs. He has a good T20I record. But still, he didn't get enough opportunities. This is really shocking. Kuldeep's career is protected because of Rohit Sharma. Rohit is the man behind Kuldeep's resurgence. He is a fantastic captain and he knows how to find talent in a big group of players. Ahead of the IPL, Rohit called Kuldeep and gave him the chance (against the West Indies). Kuldeep delivered too by taking two wickets," Pandey told&nbsp;timesofindia.com.

<section>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-vs-rr-ipl-2022-match-prediction-who-will-win-kolkata-knight-riders-vs-rajasthan-royals-clash-475703">KKR vs RR, IPL 2022 match prediction: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals clash?</a>

Pandey further mentioned that while Rohit has always backed Kuldeep and been behind his resurgence, former skipper Virat Kohli preferred Axar Patel over Kuldeep. "Rohit kept a close eye on Kuldeep, his Yo-Yo Test and rehab reports. Rohit was impressed with Kuldeep's rehab programme. Rohit should be credited for Kuldeep's comeback. He wouldn't have been here today without the support of Rohit, Pant and Ponting. Every captain has their own style of captaining and picking players. Kuldeep played a lot of cricket under Virat. Virat wants experience in the side. He went with Ashwin and Jadeja. He preferred Axar ahead of Kuldeep because of Axar's batting capabilities. A captain has to trust his players," Pandey added.

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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-want-him-to-win-the-purple-cap-kuldeep-yadav-heaps-praise-on-big-brother-yuzvendra-chahal-474984">I want him to win the Purple Cap: Kuldeep Yadav heaps praise on 'big brother' Yuzvendra Chahal</a>

At present, Kuldeep is involved with the DC franchise and would hope to take them past the league stage in IPL 2022. DC haven't been at their consistent best and are at the sixth position with four wins and five defeats in nine games.
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Kuldeep Yadav has made heads turn in IPL 2022. After struggling for form and regular appearances since early 2019, for Team India and also his previous franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the 27-year-old wrist spinner has come to his own in his new IPL franchise, i.

Kuldeep Yadav has made heads turn in IPL 2022. After struggling for form and regular appearances since early 2019, for Team India and also his previous franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the 27-year-old wrist spinner has come to his own in his new IPL franchise, i.e. the Delhi Capitals (DC). So far, Kuldeep has won Player-of-the-Match on all four occasions Rishabh Pant & Co. have won a game in the 15th season. As a result, Kuldeep occupies the second spot in the Purple Cap list, with second-most scalps (17). His comeback is nothing short of a fairytale, after falling down in the pecking order for both KKR and India (across formats). Reflecting on his student's current form, Kuldeep's childhood coach His coach Kapil Dev Pandey feels Indian captain Rohit Sharma should be credited for trusting the spinner during the West Indies home series where Kuldeep performed and that raised his confidence. "Whenever captains trusted him, Kuldeep delivered. He has a good record in Tests. He has two hat-tricks in ODIs. He has a good T20I record. But still, he didn't get enough opportunities. This is really shocking. Kuldeep's career is protected because of Rohit Sharma. Rohit is the man behind Kuldeep's resurgence. He is a fantastic captain and he knows how to find talent in a big group of players. Ahead of the IPL, Rohit called Kuldeep and gave him the chance (against the West Indies). Kuldeep delivered too by taking two wickets," Pandey told timesofindia.com. ALSO READ | KKR vs RR, IPL 2022 match prediction: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals clash? Pandey further mentioned that while Rohit has always backed Kuldeep and been behind his resurgence, former skipper Virat Kohli preferred Axar Patel over Kuldeep. "Rohit kept a close eye on Kuldeep, his Yo-Yo Test and rehab reports. Rohit was impressed with Kuldeep's rehab programme. Rohit should be credited for Kuldeep's comeback. He wouldn't have been here today without the support of Rohit, Pant and Ponting. Every captain has their own style of captaining and picking players. Kuldeep played a lot of cricket under Virat. Virat wants experience in the side. He went with Ashwin and Jadeja. He preferred Axar ahead of Kuldeep because of Axar's batting capabilities. A captain has to trust his players," Pandey added. ALSO READ | I want him to win the Purple Cap: Kuldeep Yadav heaps praise on 'big brother' Yuzvendra Chahal At present, Kuldeep is involved with the DC franchise and would hope to take them past the league stage in IPL 2022. DC haven't been at their consistent best and are at the sixth position with four wins and five defeats in nine games.

Rohit behind Kuldeep Yadav's comeback, Virat preferred Axar Patel, says DC spinner's childhood coach

Rahul Tewatia and David Miller produced yet another chasing masterclass for Gujarat Titans (GT) as the Hardik Pandya-led side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday. Tewatia and Miller combined to share an unbeaten stand of 79 runs for the fifth wicket and take GT over the line comfortably in the 171-run chase.

Asked to chase a tricky target, Gujarat Titans got off to a decent start as openers Wriddhiman Saha (29) and Shubman Gill (31) posted an opening stand of 51 runs before GT lost wickets in quick succession as the duo departed in successive overs. Captain Hardik Pandya was also dismissed cheaply on 3 off just 5 balls as RCB spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed troubled the GT batters.

However, Tewatia and Miller continued their stellar form with the willow after arriving in the middle and closed out yet another thrilling run chase for their team. While Tewatia scored a quickfire 43 off 25 balls laced with two sixes and five fours, Miller scores 39 off 24 balls with the help of a solitary six and four fours.

The duo looked in complete control of the run-chase and ensured RCB had no chance of making a comeback in the game. They chased down the target of 171 runs with three balls to spare to ensure GT continued their unbeaten streak in the tournament. The table-toppers also retained their top spot with the win.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-virat-kohli-returns-to-form-ends-15-match-drought-with-fifty-against-gujarat-titans-475211">Virat Kohli returns to form, ends 15-match drought with fifty against Gujarat Titans</a>&nbsp;

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bat first in the game. While he himself was sent back on a duck, his opening partner Virat Kohli finally managed to find some form with a gritty half-century. Kohli scored 58 off 53 balls laced with six fours and a solitary six as he added 99 runs for the second wicket with Rajat Patidar, who slammed a quickfire 32-ball 52.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-ravindra-jadeja-steps-down-as-chennai-super-kings-captain-ms-dhoni-to-take-over-475245">Ravindra Jadeja steps down as Chennai Super Kings captain, MS Dhoni to lead</a>

Glenn Maxwell also continued his ruthless run with the bat as he scored 33 off just 18 balls. While Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed both failed to deliver towards the end, Mahipal Lomror helped RCB finish strongly with 16 off 8 balls and propelled them to 170/6 in 20 overs.

Gujarat Titans are now&nbsp;on an unbeaten streak of four matches in the league while RCB have lost their last three games in a row as the road to playoffs gets trickier for the Du Plessis-led side.

Rahul Tewatia and David Miller produced yet another chasing masterclass for Gujarat Titans (GT) as the Hardik Pandya-led side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday.

Rahul Tewatia and David Miller produced yet another chasing masterclass for Gujarat Titans (GT) as the Hardik Pandya-led side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by six wickets in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on Saturday. Tewatia and Miller combined to share an unbeaten stand of 79 runs for the fifth wicket and take GT over the line comfortably in the 171-run chase. Asked to chase a tricky target, Gujarat Titans got off to a decent start as openers Wriddhiman Saha (29) and Shubman Gill (31) posted an opening stand of 51 runs before GT lost wickets in quick succession as the duo departed in successive overs. Captain Hardik Pandya was also dismissed cheaply on 3 off just 5 balls as RCB spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Shahbaz Ahmed troubled the GT batters. However, Tewatia and Miller continued their stellar form with the willow after arriving in the middle and closed out yet another thrilling run chase for their team. While Tewatia scored a quickfire 43 off 25 balls laced with two sixes and five fours, Miller scores 39 off 24 balls with the help of a solitary six and four fours. The duo looked in complete control of the run-chase and ensured RCB had no chance of making a comeback in the game. They chased down the target of 171 runs with three balls to spare to ensure GT continued their unbeaten streak in the tournament. The table-toppers also retained their top spot with the win. Also Read: Virat Kohli returns to form, ends 15-match drought with fifty against Gujarat Titans RCB skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to bat first in the game. While he himself was sent back on a duck, his opening partner Virat Kohli finally managed to find some form with a gritty half-century. Kohli scored 58 off 53 balls laced with six fours and a solitary six as he added 99 runs for the second wicket with Rajat Patidar, who slammed a quickfire 32-ball 52. Also Read: Ravindra Jadeja steps down as Chennai Super Kings captain, MS Dhoni to lead Glenn Maxwell also continued his ruthless run with the bat as he scored 33 off just 18 balls. While Dinesh Karthik and Shahbaz Ahmed both failed to deliver towards the end, Mahipal Lomror helped RCB finish strongly with 16 off 8 balls and propelled them to 170/6 in 20 overs. Gujarat Titans are now on an unbeaten streak of four matches in the league while RCB have lost their last three games in a row as the road to playoffs gets trickier for the Du Plessis-led side.

IPL 2022: Rahul Tewatia, David Miller shine again as Gujarat Titans thrash RCB by 6 wickets

Virat Kohli ended his 15-match wait for a half century as he scored 58 off 53 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans on Saturday. It was his first fifty in this year’s competition after a horrible run of form.

With back-to-back golden ducks and a number of good starts, this was the perfect way for the former skipper to announce his return to form. Kohli looked comfortable against the GT bowlers and although he played a cautious innings, it was important in providing RCB with a good start.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-team-still-feels-his-presence-rajasthan-royals-pay-tribute-to-shane-warne-ahead-of-mi-clash-watch-475205">Rajasthan Royals pay tribute to late Shane Warne ahead of MI clash - WATCH</a>

The innings consisted of six fours and one six as he reached his fifty in the 13th over of the innings off the bowling of Mohammed Shami. He took 45 balls to reach the milestone and he currently has 48 IPL half centuries – joint second highest number of fifties in IPL along with Shikhar Dhawan.

It was Kohli’s first half century after 15 innings which saw him struggle for runs. In 2009-10, he had a run of 18 matches where he did not score a single fifty but this time, he faced a lot of criticism.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-recreating-rohit-sharmas-2013-success-as-captain-with-gujarat-titans-sunil-gavaskar-475186" hreflang="en">Hardik recreating Rohit's 2013 success as captain with GT: Gavaskar</a>

Rajat Patidar stitched together a brilliant partnership with Kohli as he scored a quickfire half century to take RCB to 170/6 in 20 overs.

Mahipal Lomror slammed two fours and one six towards the end of the innings to take his side to a comfortable position. For GT, the returning Pradeep Sangwan was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.

Virat Kohli ended his 15-match wait for a half century as he scored 58 off 53 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans on Saturday.

Virat Kohli ended his 15-match wait for a half century as he scored 58 off 53 deliveries during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans on Saturday. It was his first fifty in this year’s competition after a horrible run of form. With back-to-back golden ducks and a number of good starts, this was the perfect way for the former skipper to announce his return to form. Kohli looked comfortable against the GT bowlers and although he played a cautious innings, it was important in providing RCB with a good start. Also read | Rajasthan Royals pay tribute to late Shane Warne ahead of MI clash - WATCH The innings consisted of six fours and one six as he reached his fifty in the 13th over of the innings off the bowling of Mohammed Shami. He took 45 balls to reach the milestone and he currently has 48 IPL half centuries – joint second highest number of fifties in IPL along with Shikhar Dhawan. It was Kohli’s first half century after 15 innings which saw him struggle for runs. In 2009-10, he had a run of 18 matches where he did not score a single fifty but this time, he faced a lot of criticism. Also read | Hardik recreating Rohit's 2013 success as captain with GT: Gavaskar Rajat Patidar stitched together a brilliant partnership with Kohli as he scored a quickfire half century to take RCB to 170/6 in 20 overs. Mahipal Lomror slammed two fours and one six towards the end of the innings to take his side to a comfortable position. For GT, the returning Pradeep Sangwan was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets.

IPL 2022: Virat Kohli returns to form, ends 15-match drought with fifty against Gujarat Titans

Team India's superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are woefully out of form in IPL 2022. While Mumbai Indians' (MI) skipper Rohit has only 153 runs in eight&nbsp;matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former captain Virat Kohli has only amassed 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16.

With Kohli and Rohit both out of form, there is concern among Indian cricket fans with the T20 World Cup set to be held in Australia later this year. Amid all this, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has reacted to Rohit and Kohli's barren run. The former Indian captain feels both the players are too good to miss out for long and will soon be among runs.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/yuvraj-singh-reveals-why-he-couldnt-sleep-before-his-international-debut-versus-australia-474924">Yuvraj Singh reveals why he couldn't sleep before his international debut versus Australia</a>

In an interview with&nbsp;News 18,&nbsp;the former KKR captain said, "They are great players and I am sure they will get back into form. I hope they start scoring runs soon. I don't know what is going on in Virat Kohli's head, but I am sure he will regain his form and get some good runs. He is a great player."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-has-lifetimes-worth-of-credit-in-bank-shane-watson-opines-on-rcb-stars-batting-struggles-474729">'Virat Kohli has lifetime's worth of credit in bank' - Shane Watson opines on RCB star's batting struggles</a>

Talking about Rohit-led MI's run in IPL 2022, the 35-year-old has also failed to inspire his franchise to a win and the five-time winners remain the only side to be winless&nbsp;in the 15th season (after eight encounters). On the other hand, Kohli-starrer RCB are in a much better position, occupying the fifth position with five victories from nine games.

Team India's superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are woefully out of form in IPL 2022. While Mumbai Indians' (MI) skipper Rohit has only 153 runs in eight matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former captain Virat Kohli has only amassed 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16.

Team India's superstars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are woefully out of form in IPL 2022. While Mumbai Indians' (MI) skipper Rohit has only 153 runs in eight matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)'s former captain Virat Kohli has only amassed 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16. With Kohli and Rohit both out of form, there is concern among Indian cricket fans with the T20 World Cup set to be held in Australia later this year. Amid all this, BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly has reacted to Rohit and Kohli's barren run. The former Indian captain feels both the players are too good to miss out for long and will soon be among runs. ALSO READ | Yuvraj Singh reveals why he couldn't sleep before his international debut versus Australia In an interview with News 18, the former KKR captain said, "They are great players and I am sure they will get back into form. I hope they start scoring runs soon. I don't know what is going on in Virat Kohli's head, but I am sure he will regain his form and get some good runs. He is a great player." ALSO READ | 'Virat Kohli has lifetime's worth of credit in bank' - Shane Watson opines on RCB star's batting struggles Talking about Rohit-led MI's run in IPL 2022, the 35-year-old has also failed to inspire his franchise to a win and the five-time winners remain the only side to be winless in the 15th season (after eight encounters). On the other hand, Kohli-starrer RCB are in a much better position, occupying the fifth position with five victories from nine games.

'Hope they start scoring runs' - Sourav Ganguly backs under-fire duo Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma to regain form

'Wedding in a bubble', RCB players attend Glenn Maxwell-Vini Ramani wedding

Virat Kohli is having a rough ride in IPL 2022. After nine outings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the 33-year-old former captain is struggling for form and has amassed only 128 runs at an average of 16, including two golden ducks.

Kohli is the leading run-getter in IPL history, with&nbsp;6,411 runs from 211 matches. However, he is yet to cross the 50-run mark in the&nbsp;15th season of the cash-rich league. With him struggling to score, many former cricketers and experts have opined on Kohli's lack of runs. Shane Watson, part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) as their batting coach for IPL 2022, has also joined the bandwagon.

"In the end, Virat has got close to a lifetime's worth of credit. He will come good, everyone knows he will come good. It's about his decision, whether he thinks he will take some time off, whether he thinks he needs that, whether he decides to keep playing with a little bit of time to freshen up, he will be able to find it very quickly," Watson told The Grade Cricketer.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-needs-to-yuvraj-singh-shares-words-of-wisdom-for-struggling-rcb-and-indian-batter-474649">'Virat Kohli needs to....' - Yuvraj Singh shares words of wisdom for struggling RCB and Indian batter</a>

"You don't lose your skill as he has got, it can be suppressed a little bit because of the situations or you're a little bit tired or whatever, it can happen in the game of cricket. No one has gone about their career scoring runs non-stop, especially in a long career. There will be little periods where there will be a little bit of downtime. But Virat, he is just so good, he will find his way. He has got a lot of credit in his bank," the former Australian all-rounder added.

It will be interesting to see if Kohli is dropped (which seems out of the picture) or whether he opts for a break amid IPL 2022 struggles. Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised him to pull out of this year's IPL in order to stay away from the game for sometime, remain fresh and stage a fitting comeback for Team India.

Virat Kohli is having a rough ride in IPL 2022. After nine outings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the 33-year-old former captain is struggling for form and has amassed only 128 runs at an average of 16, including two golden ducks.

Virat Kohli is having a rough ride in IPL 2022. After nine outings for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), the 33-year-old former captain is struggling for form and has amassed only 128 runs at an average of 16, including two golden ducks. Kohli is the leading run-getter in IPL history, with 6,411 runs from 211 matches. However, he is yet to cross the 50-run mark in the 15th season of the cash-rich league. With him struggling to score, many former cricketers and experts have opined on Kohli's lack of runs. Shane Watson, part of the Delhi Capitals (DC) as their batting coach for IPL 2022, has also joined the bandwagon. "In the end, Virat has got close to a lifetime's worth of credit. He will come good, everyone knows he will come good. It's about his decision, whether he thinks he will take some time off, whether he thinks he needs that, whether he decides to keep playing with a little bit of time to freshen up, he will be able to find it very quickly," Watson told The Grade Cricketer. ALSO READ | 'Virat Kohli needs to....' - Yuvraj Singh shares words of wisdom for struggling RCB and Indian batter "You don't lose your skill as he has got, it can be suppressed a little bit because of the situations or you're a little bit tired or whatever, it can happen in the game of cricket. No one has gone about their career scoring runs non-stop, especially in a long career. There will be little periods where there will be a little bit of downtime. But Virat, he is just so good, he will find his way. He has got a lot of credit in his bank," the former Australian all-rounder added. It will be interesting to see if Kohli is dropped (which seems out of the picture) or whether he opts for a break amid IPL 2022 struggles. Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised him to pull out of this year's IPL in order to stay away from the game for sometime, remain fresh and stage a fitting comeback for Team India.

'Virat Kohli has lifetime's worth of credit in bank' - Shane Watson opines on RCB star's batting struggles

Virat Kohli has been having a torrid time in IPL 2022. Playing as a regular batter this season, after giving up Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) captaincy post the end of last year's edition, the 33-year-old Kohli has failed miserably with the bat and has only 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16 in the ongoing season.

In addition, Kohli hasn't scored an international ton since late 2019. While he has got runs for Team India, especially in the white-ball formats and played some good knocks in Tests, he has been far from his usual best and hasn't converted any of his fifties, or starts, into anything significant in the last two years. Hence, concerns are rising for the superstar cricketer, who is going through a barren run.

Commenting on Kohli's dip in form, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh feels that the ex-skipper needs to once again become a free-flowing personality to rediscover his mojo. “Obviously, he is also not happy, and people aren’t too, because we have seen him setting bigger benchmarks, scoring hundreds after hundreds. But this happens to the best players,” Yuvraj said on Sports18’s Home of Heroes.

“Virat needs to become a free-flowing personality again. If he can change himself and be like how he was earlier that will reflect in his game,” Yuvraj said. “He has proved himself to be the best of this era and believes in a strong work ethic and that has brought the best out of him over the years," he added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pull-out-of-ipl-2022-ravi-shastris-bold-suggestion-for-virat-kohli-amid-rcb-stars-batting-concerns-474207">'Pull out of IPL 2022' - Ravi Shastri's bold suggestion for Virat Kohli amid RCB star's batting concerns</a>

A few days back, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri -- who has worked closely with Kohli since 2014 -- made a big statement and asked the star batter to pull out of IPL 2022 to have some time off from the game and regain form for Team India. "I think a break is ideal for him because he has played non-stop cricket and he has captained the side across all formats. It will be wise of him to take a break. You know, sometimes you have to draw the balance. This year he is already into the tournament (IPL 2022), tomorrow if push comes to shove and you want to prolong your international career and make a mark there for 6-7 years, pull out of the IPL, for all you care," Shastri had told Star Sports presenter Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel.

Virat Kohli has been having a torrid time in IPL 2022. Playing as a regular batter this season, after giving up Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) captaincy post the end of last year's edition, the 33-year-old Kohli has failed miserably with the bat and has only 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16 in the ongoing season.

Virat Kohli has been having a torrid time in IPL 2022. Playing as a regular batter this season, after giving up Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) captaincy post the end of last year's edition, the 33-year-old Kohli has failed miserably with the bat and has only 128 runs in nine outings, at an average of 16 in the ongoing season. In addition, Kohli hasn't scored an international ton since late 2019. While he has got runs for Team India, especially in the white-ball formats and played some good knocks in Tests, he has been far from his usual best and hasn't converted any of his fifties, or starts, into anything significant in the last two years. Hence, concerns are rising for the superstar cricketer, who is going through a barren run. Commenting on Kohli's dip in form, former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh feels that the ex-skipper needs to once again become a free-flowing personality to rediscover his mojo. “Obviously, he is also not happy, and people aren’t too, because we have seen him setting bigger benchmarks, scoring hundreds after hundreds. But this happens to the best players,” Yuvraj said on Sports18’s Home of Heroes. “Virat needs to become a free-flowing personality again. If he can change himself and be like how he was earlier that will reflect in his game,” Yuvraj said. “He has proved himself to be the best of this era and believes in a strong work ethic and that has brought the best out of him over the years," he added. ALSO READ | 'Pull out of IPL 2022' - Ravi Shastri's bold suggestion for Virat Kohli amid RCB star's batting concerns A few days back, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri -- who has worked closely with Kohli since 2014 -- made a big statement and asked the star batter to pull out of IPL 2022 to have some time off from the game and regain form for Team India. "I think a break is ideal for him because he has played non-stop cricket and he has captained the side across all formats. It will be wise of him to take a break. You know, sometimes you have to draw the balance. This year he is already into the tournament (IPL 2022), tomorrow if push comes to shove and you want to prolong your international career and make a mark there for 6-7 years, pull out of the IPL, for all you care," Shastri had told Star Sports presenter Jatin Sapru on his YouTube channel.

'Virat Kohli needs to....' - Yuvraj Singh shares words of wisdom for struggling RCB and Indian batter

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) failed to chase down a modest 145 versus Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 39 of IPL 2022 to lose by 29 runs at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Tuesday (April 26). All eyes were once again on Virat Kohli, the former RCB captain, who has been struggling for runs in the ongoing IPL season.

With only 119 runs in eight innings prior to the RR clash, it was expected that Kohli would come back to his usual best versus Rajasthan, a team against whom RCB were unbeaten in the last five face-offs. Despite Kohli being proactive on the field, talking to the bowlers and helping them plot batters' downfall, the star batter couldn't do much with the bat. He opened the innings for the first time in the 15th season but only managed a scratchy 10-ball 9.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-whats-fretting-virat-kohli-the-player-473401">IPL 2022: What's fretting Virat Kohli, the player?</a>

Reflecting on his woeful run with the bat, former India head coach Ravi Shastri once again suggested Kohli to take a break. In fact, he added that the 33-year-old should pull out of IPL 2022 to regain some form after a break and prolong his international career. "I think a break is ideal for him because he has played non-stop cricket and he has captained the side across all formats. It will be wise of him to take a break. You know, sometimes you have to draw the balance. This year he is already into the tournament (IPL 2022), tomorrow if push comes to shove and you want to prolong your international career and make a mark there for 6-7 years, pull out of the IPL, for all you care," Shastri said on sports presenter Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel.

<section>
"If that is the case, you have played for 14-15 years. Not only Virat, I'll tell that to any other player. If you want to play and do well for India, you have to draw the line where you want to take that break and the ideal break would be off-season where India is not playing and the only time India does not play is the IPL. Sometimes, you need to do that or tell the franchise I'll only play the half. Pay me half, as simple as that. Those tough calls need to come if you want to reach the zenith of your profession as an international player," he further asserted.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-is-overcooked-if-anyone-needs-a-break-its-him-ravi-shastri-on-rcb-stars-woeful-form-472323">Virat Kohli is overcooked, if anyone needs a break it's him: Ravi Shastri on RCB star's woeful form</a>

Shastri added, "Virat is still young and he has best 5-6 years ahead of him. He would have realised what he has gone through in these last few months. He knows he has to go back to the drawing board, how he thinks, how he approaches and he has to literally start from scratch. There have been many players in the past who have gone through this. You mentioned first ball out, to be honest, from the outside I would not be worried. As a player if I have gotten out first ball, I have hardly been in. It is when you get in and throw it away, that is more disappointing. When he gets in, it is up to him to make it count."

For the unversed, Kohli has gone over 100 matches without a century&nbsp;across all formats (17 Tests, 21 ODIs, 25 T20Is and 39* IPL games). His last international ton came in late 2019. While he has got starts for India in all formats and scored some vital half-centuries, he has throw away his wicket after settling in or been dismissed for cheap more often than not since his last triple-figure knock.

Will Kohli pull out of IPL 2022? It will be a bold decision if he does...
</section>

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) failed to chase down a modest 145 versus Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 39 of IPL 2022 to lose by 29 runs at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Tuesday (April 26).

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) failed to chase down a modest 145 versus Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 39 of IPL 2022 to lose by 29 runs at the MCA Stadium, Pune on Tuesday (April 26). All eyes were once again on Virat Kohli, the former RCB captain, who has been struggling for runs in the ongoing IPL season. With only 119 runs in eight innings prior to the RR clash, it was expected that Kohli would come back to his usual best versus Rajasthan, a team against whom RCB were unbeaten in the last five face-offs. Despite Kohli being proactive on the field, talking to the bowlers and helping them plot batters' downfall, the star batter couldn't do much with the bat. He opened the innings for the first time in the 15th season but only managed a scratchy 10-ball 9. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: What's fretting Virat Kohli, the player? Reflecting on his woeful run with the bat, former India head coach Ravi Shastri once again suggested Kohli to take a break. In fact, he added that the 33-year-old should pull out of IPL 2022 to regain some form after a break and prolong his international career. "I think a break is ideal for him because he has played non-stop cricket and he has captained the side across all formats. It will be wise of him to take a break. You know, sometimes you have to draw the balance. This year he is already into the tournament (IPL 2022), tomorrow if push comes to shove and you want to prolong your international career and make a mark there for 6-7 years, pull out of the IPL, for all you care," Shastri said on sports presenter Jatin Sapru's YouTube channel. "If that is the case, you have played for 14-15 years. Not only Virat, I'll tell that to any other player. If you want to play and do well for India, you have to draw the line where you want to take that break and the ideal break would be off-season where India is not playing and the only time India does not play is the IPL. Sometimes, you need to do that or tell the franchise I'll only play the half. Pay me half, as simple as that. Those tough calls need to come if you want to reach the zenith of your profession as an international player," he further asserted. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli is overcooked, if anyone needs a break it's him: Ravi Shastri on RCB star's woeful form Shastri added, "Virat is still young and he has best 5-6 years ahead of him. He would have realised what he has gone through in these last few months. He knows he has to go back to the drawing board, how he thinks, how he approaches and he has to literally start from scratch. There have been many players in the past who have gone through this. You mentioned first ball out, to be honest, from the outside I would not be worried. As a player if I have gotten out first ball, I have hardly been in. It is when you get in and throw it away, that is more disappointing. When he gets in, it is up to him to make it count." For the unversed, Kohli has gone over 100 matches without a century across all formats (17 Tests, 21 ODIs, 25 T20Is and 39* IPL games). His last international ton came in late 2019. While he has got starts for India in all formats and scored some vital half-centuries, he has throw away his wicket after settling in or been dismissed for cheap more often than not since his last triple-figure knock. Will Kohli pull out of IPL 2022? It will be a bold decision if he does...

'Pull out of IPL 2022' - Ravi Shastri's bold suggestion for Virat Kohli amid RCB star's batting concerns

When Virat Kohli got dismissed for a golden duck in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) face-off versus Lucknow Super Giants, in IPL 2022's match 31, a statistic started doing the rounds on social media and elsewhere. It revealed that the once regarded 'run machine' has now gone over 100 matches without a century&nbsp;across all formats (17 Tests, 21 ODIs, 25 T20Is and 38*&nbsp;IPL games).&nbsp;

Kohli had a wry smile as he walked past KL Rahul &amp; Co. after an embarrassing first-ball duck. Four evenings later, King Kohli came to the crease in the second over of RCB's innings after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opted to bowl first at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in match 36 of the 15th season, on Saturday evening (April 23). As soon as he arrived, Kane Williamson -- a tactical mastermind -- strived hard to grab Aiden Markram's attention to add him to the slip cordon. Soon, Marco Jansen bowled outside off-stump, on the fifth-stump line, as Kohli wasted no time to edge one and get caught in the slips. This time, no smile followed as RCB's former skipper stood still in disbelief. He&nbsp;looked helplessly toward his non-striker (Anuj Rawat) as&nbsp;if asking&nbsp;to be pinched in order to accept the reality before walking back.

After his second successive golden duck, Kohli's expression said it all. There was sheer disbelief in his eyes. Thus, there was pin-drop silence in the stadium as an often hard-to-please and unforgiving crowd silently sympathised with Kohli after yet another failure.&nbsp;

Virat Kohli's no-shows since NZ tour, 2020

Ducks - 9 
Golden Ducks - 3 (2 in IPL)

**across all formats

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-need-a-six-month-break-pietersen-comes-out-in-support-of-indias-under-fire-duo-473031">Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma need a six-month break: Pietersen comes out in support of India's under-fire duo</a>

What's fretting King Kohli? (Covid break, bio-bubble fatigue, overburdened, empty stands, BCCI row, etc.)

Those who possess even the most basic updates of men's cricket are aware of Kohli's barren run. It has been written, re-written, highlighted on front pages on several occasions, and even discussed on&nbsp;hour-long shows on how Team India and RCB's former captain has been without a century in competitive cricket since late 2019. At first, it seemed as if it was just a matter of time before Kohli would rediscover his form. However, time is now surely passing away at a rapid pace for the 33-year-old superstar cricketer.

Kohli's downfall coincided with Covid-19's advent. It led to a six-month-long break at the international level. Since then, Kohli has not been the old Kohli. At times, his aggression has gone missing, he has been completely undone by the bio-bubble restrictions and looked clueless playing in front of empty stands.&nbsp;A player of Kohli's caliber cherishes the crowd support. Their energy rubs on him, helping him remain at his usual chirpy best. All this is lagging in his game nowadays!

Also, Team India's unbelievably hectic cricketing&nbsp;calendar hasn't helped Kohli's case. Despite some mini-breaks, he has almost been omnipresent for India and the RCB. The nearly-decade-long captaincy responsibilities (he became RCB's full-time skipper in 2013) also led to him being overburdened. Moreover, the BCCI captaincy row added salt to Kohli's wounds. The entire saga panned out in the open. Thus, it led to Kohli taking BCCI heads on, however, mentally he kept losing the battle with each passing day...

The dismissals depict a sad story...

Since April 2020, Kohli has fallen to spinners more often than&nbsp;not (51 out of his total 74 dismissals have been against the tweakers). In addition, he continues to remain lost regarding&nbsp;the fourth-fifth stump lines; chasing deliveries way out of his arc. At times, the gap between bat and pad has also widened alarmingly. Surely, he can't be far away from finding his peak once again. He is too good a player to miss out for too long. But, hasn't it already been a long wait? Has he become a victim of his greatness? Is he overcooked and&nbsp;desperately in need of a lengthy break?

Ravi Shastri on Star Sports:&nbsp;Virat Kohli is overcooked. If anyone needs a break, it's him. Whether it's 2 months or a month-and-a-half, whether it's after England or before England. He needs a break because he has got 6-7 years of cricket left in him and you don't want to lose that with a fried brain. He is not the only one. There might be 1 or 2 in world cricket going through the same. You need to address the problem upfront.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-virat-kohlis-batting-woes-continue-dismissed-for-second-consecutive-golden-duck-watch-473267">IPL 2022: Virat Kohli's batting woes continue, dismissed for second consecutive golden duck - WATCH</a>

The answers lie within Kohli's mind. He knows his body and how his mind functions better&nbsp;than anyone (Taking the liberty to share a&nbsp;message for his&nbsp;plethora of&nbsp;fans: don't make him your main protagonist in every discussion. Don't even discuss him. Focus less on him. Outside noise needs to die down for Kohli to rise again).

Even the great Sachin Tendulkar had flaws. He, however, always found ways to tackle them. For now, Kohli is content with working on his strengths than weaknesses. Maybe he needs to slow down. Maybe, he needs to fight the bubble within&nbsp;before coming out of this crisis.

The engine surely needs an overhaul. At present, the damage has been done. But, King Kohli isn't one to be kept out for very long. Somewhere down the line, his usual form is still waiting for him. He just needs to redo the coding&nbsp;to function as usual.

When Virat Kohli got dismissed for a golden duck in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) face-off versus Lucknow Super Giants, in IPL 2022's match 31, a statistic started doing the rounds on social media and elsewhere.

When Virat Kohli got dismissed for a golden duck in Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) face-off versus Lucknow Super Giants, in IPL 2022's match 31, a statistic started doing the rounds on social media and elsewhere. It revealed that the once regarded 'run machine' has now gone over 100 matches without a century across all formats (17 Tests, 21 ODIs, 25 T20Is and 38* IPL games). Kohli had a wry smile as he walked past KL Rahul & Co. after an embarrassing first-ball duck. Four evenings later, King Kohli came to the crease in the second over of RCB's innings after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opted to bowl first at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in match 36 of the 15th season, on Saturday evening (April 23). As soon as he arrived, Kane Williamson -- a tactical mastermind -- strived hard to grab Aiden Markram's attention to add him to the slip cordon. Soon, Marco Jansen bowled outside off-stump, on the fifth-stump line, as Kohli wasted no time to edge one and get caught in the slips. This time, no smile followed as RCB's former skipper stood still in disbelief. He looked helplessly toward his non-striker (Anuj Rawat) as if asking to be pinched in order to accept the reality before walking back. After his second successive golden duck, Kohli's expression said it all. There was sheer disbelief in his eyes. Thus, there was pin-drop silence in the stadium as an often hard-to-please and unforgiving crowd silently sympathised with Kohli after yet another failure. Virat Kohli's no-shows since NZ tour, 2020 Ducks - 9 Golden Ducks - 3 (2 in IPL) **across all formats ALSO READ | Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma need a six-month break: Pietersen comes out in support of India's under-fire duo What's fretting King Kohli? (Covid break, bio-bubble fatigue, overburdened, empty stands, BCCI row, etc.) Those who possess even the most basic updates of men's cricket are aware of Kohli's barren run. It has been written, re-written, highlighted on front pages on several occasions, and even discussed on hour-long shows on how Team India and RCB's former captain has been without a century in competitive cricket since late 2019. At first, it seemed as if it was just a matter of time before Kohli would rediscover his form. However, time is now surely passing away at a rapid pace for the 33-year-old superstar cricketer. Kohli's downfall coincided with Covid-19's advent. It led to a six-month-long break at the international level. Since then, Kohli has not been the old Kohli. At times, his aggression has gone missing, he has been completely undone by the bio-bubble restrictions and looked clueless playing in front of empty stands. A player of Kohli's caliber cherishes the crowd support. Their energy rubs on him, helping him remain at his usual chirpy best. All this is lagging in his game nowadays! Also, Team India's unbelievably hectic cricketing calendar hasn't helped Kohli's case. Despite some mini-breaks, he has almost been omnipresent for India and the RCB. The nearly-decade-long captaincy responsibilities (he became RCB's full-time skipper in 2013) also led to him being overburdened. Moreover, the BCCI captaincy row added salt to Kohli's wounds. The entire saga panned out in the open. Thus, it led to Kohli taking BCCI heads on, however, mentally he kept losing the battle with each passing day... The dismissals depict a sad story... Since April 2020, Kohli has fallen to spinners more often than not (51 out of his total 74 dismissals have been against the tweakers). In addition, he continues to remain lost regarding the fourth-fifth stump lines; chasing deliveries way out of his arc. At times, the gap between bat and pad has also widened alarmingly. Surely, he can't be far away from finding his peak once again. He is too good a player to miss out for too long. But, hasn't it already been a long wait? Has he become a victim of his greatness? Is he overcooked and desperately in need of a lengthy break? Ravi Shastri on Star Sports: Virat Kohli is overcooked. If anyone needs a break, it's him. Whether it's 2 months or a month-and-a-half, whether it's after England or before England. He needs a break because he has got 6-7 years of cricket left in him and you don't want to lose that with a fried brain. He is not the only one. There might be 1 or 2 in world cricket going through the same. You need to address the problem upfront. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Virat Kohli's batting woes continue, dismissed for second consecutive golden duck - WATCH The answers lie within Kohli's mind. He knows his body and how his mind functions better than anyone (Taking the liberty to share a message for his plethora of fans: don't make him your main protagonist in every discussion. Don't even discuss him. Focus less on him. Outside noise needs to die down for Kohli to rise again). Even the great Sachin Tendulkar had flaws. He, however, always found ways to tackle them. For now, Kohli is content with working on his strengths than weaknesses. Maybe he needs to slow down. Maybe, he needs to fight the bubble within before coming out of this crisis. The engine surely needs an overhaul. At present, the damage has been done. But, King Kohli isn't one to be kept out for very long. Somewhere down the line, his usual form is still waiting for him. He just needs to redo the coding to function as usual.

IPL 2022: What's fretting Virat Kohli, the player?

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar turned 49 on April 24 (Sunday). On his special day, social media platforms were flooded with birthday wishes for the legendary cricketer. Sachin remains one of the biggest names in world cricket despite retiring from international cricket in late 2013. He had taken the international circuit by storm, ending with over 34,000 international runs and 100 centuries (most by any).

Thus, Sachin's popularity remains intact to date. Thus, many former and active cricketers as well as his ardent fans and followers, worldwide, poured birthday wishes for the former Indian opener. Among many, Chris Gayle also wished Tendulkar. He took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, " "Blessed Birthday Master @sachin_rt- wish you many more blessings." To this, Tendulkar also reacted and shared a heartfelt message for the Universe Boss. He replied saying, "Many thanks Chris! India is missing you this IPL season."

Here's the two superstar's conversation:

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<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Many thanks Chris! 😊 
India is missing you this IPL season.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt/status/1519261569078919169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-never-requested-business-class-seat-for-anushka-former-cricketer-dwells-on-indian-stars-nature-474323">Virat never requested business class seat for Anushka: Former cricketer dwells on Indian star's nature</a>

For the unversed, Gayle remains a big name in international cricket. He has also tasted immense success in IPL, with a staggering 4965 runs in the league (seventh-most overall). He is widely remembered for his memorable stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore where he amassed runs at regular intervals. The West Indian opener has also slammed six centuries in the premier tournament (most by any) and is the leading six-hitter as well (357).

Gayle hadn't registered for IPL 2022, however, he had recently hinted at staging a comeback in IPL 2023 edition. It remains to be seen if he registers for the next year's edition. It will be interesting to see which team bids for him and where he eventually goes with the IPL now being a ten-team tournament.

MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Suresh Raina and many others have been some big names in IPL. However, Gayle's absence is being felt in this year's season. Hence, many will pray for his return to next year's IPL.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar turned 49 on April 24 (Sunday). On his special day, social media platforms were flooded with birthday wishes for the legendary cricketer.

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar turned 49 on April 24 (Sunday). On his special day, social media platforms were flooded with birthday wishes for the legendary cricketer. Sachin remains one of the biggest names in world cricket despite retiring from international cricket in late 2013. He had taken the international circuit by storm, ending with over 34,000 international runs and 100 centuries (most by any). Thus, Sachin's popularity remains intact to date. Thus, many former and active cricketers as well as his ardent fans and followers, worldwide, poured birthday wishes for the former Indian opener. Among many, Chris Gayle also wished Tendulkar. He took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, " "Blessed Birthday Master @sachin_rt- wish you many more blessings." To this, Tendulkar also reacted and shared a heartfelt message for the Universe Boss. He replied saying, "Many thanks Chris! India is missing you this IPL season." Here's the two superstar's conversation: Many thanks Chris! 😊 India is missing you this IPL season. — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) April 27, 2022 × ALSO READ | Virat never requested business class seat for Anushka: Former cricketer dwells on Indian star's nature For the unversed, Gayle remains a big name in international cricket. He has also tasted immense success in IPL, with a staggering 4965 runs in the league (seventh-most overall). He is widely remembered for his memorable stint with the Royal Challengers Bangalore where he amassed runs at regular intervals. The West Indian opener has also slammed six centuries in the premier tournament (most by any) and is the leading six-hitter as well (357). Gayle hadn't registered for IPL 2022, however, he had recently hinted at staging a comeback in IPL 2023 edition. It remains to be seen if he registers for the next year's edition. It will be interesting to see which team bids for him and where he eventually goes with the IPL now being a ten-team tournament. MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Suresh Raina and many others have been some big names in IPL. However, Gayle's absence is being felt in this year's season. Hence, many will pray for his return to next year's IPL.

India is missing you: Sachin Tendulkar shares heartwarming message for IPL's iconic star

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