Former Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli talked about the emergence of the ex-RCB players whose fortunes changed at the franchise and he became a beast in a matter of six months. Kohli-led RCB reached the final in IPL 2016 but finished second as Sunrisers Hyderabad won their maiden title.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have made it to the playoffs after three consecutive disappointing seasons in the last two seasons, however, they have not been able to get past that last push to reach the finals and win the title.
RCB's last final appearance came in the 2016 season, where the Virat Kohli-led side made a miraculous comeback after winning just two games in their first 7 matches. RCB needed to win at least 6 of their remaining seven matches and they really took advantage of it.
While they defeated Gujarat Lions in Qualifier 1, Sunrisers could not get past Hyderabad in the final and lost by 8 runs at the last hurdle. While Virat Kohli had a stellar season with 973 runs including four centuries, there was a middle-order attack that the three-time finalist has always needed, in KL Rahul, who made some crucial appearances for the men in red and black. Played innings.
Rahul had not yet emerged at the IPL level but the 2016 season changed everything for him after he switched from Sunrisers Hyderabad. Talking about the transformation of some players at RCB, which he has witnessed for the first time, Kohli said that he was particularly surprised by the change in Rahul's form and fate suggested that he could suddenly become one in a matter of six months. became an animal.
Speaking on the RCB podcast, Kohli said, "For me the only two people are KL (Rahul) and Yuzi (Yuzvendra Chahal). KL Rahul was with Karun and Mayank at RCB in 2013. KL Rahul was never a man He was seen as a T20 specialist. He was part of Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2015 and Avinash Vaidya was our manager earlier. He contacted me because he was in touch with KL Rahul, and he was not getting any playing time And I had seen him play for India.
Kohli said that he was playing for India when Rahul left RCB and they were not much attached to each other at that time. However, the 29-year-old caught his eye during the 2014 tour of Australia and he continues to impress with his body language and confidence.
“He was playing for Sunrisers and he was not getting many chances and the chances he got, I felt like he is playing under pressure, you can see he was trying to prove a point, himself in IPL. was trying to prove it. When the opportunity came, I thought, this guy has incredible talent and maybe playing for Bangalore and RCB will make things easier for him because there, he is playing in front of his home audience and here AB, Chris and I are here and there. If KL can play a role, perhaps he can grow in confidence, the 33-year-old further added.
And, Rahul did exactly that. His strike rate, his consistency went through the roof in that season and along with Kohli, de Villiers and Gayle, he made a solid top four for RCB along with Watson. At an average of 44 with a strike rate of 146, Rahul had arrived in the IPL well and truly.
"He doesn't have to be the focal point or that youngster who has to prove himself. It's about being part of this great team and showing what he can do. And the way he batted that season." That, for me, was a big change to see a player who was suddenly going to be this beast in six months' time. From there he moves on," Kohli said.
Rahul will now lead Lucknow Super Giants as a batsman after four sensational years with Punjab Kings.