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Kohli hails RCB's 'perfect 10' performance against MI

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Last updated on 27 Sep 2021 | 04:07 AM
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Kohli hails RCB's 'perfect 10' performance against MI

Virat Kohli lavished praise on Glenn Maxwell and Harshal Patel after the duo's efforts sealed a 54-run victory for RCB

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli heaped praise on teammates Glenn Maxwell and Harshal Patel for their performances on Sunday which fetched the team a 54-run win against Mumbai Indians.

Maxwell hit three sixes and six boundaries in his 37-ball 56 as RCB posted 165/6 in 20 overs. The Australian also claimed the key wickets of MI captain Rohit Sharma and Krunal Pandya in the second innings.

"Maxi's innings was unbelievable. If you don't try and stamp your authority, Bumrah will get over you - that's how good he is! You have to be at your level best. I'd give it a perfect ten tonight," Kohli said in a post-match press conference.

"We left out 15 (runs) out there... Those are the things where we feel we can get 20-25 extra runs."

Kohli also hailed pacer Harshal Patel's hat-trick as the pacer became the third RCB bowler to achieve the feat. Patel, who leads the Purple Cap race with 23 wickets from 10 wickets, claimed 4-19 to wrap up the match for his team.

"I went with my gut feel with DC (Christian). With his experience and change-ups, he bowled an amazing over. What Harshal did was unbelievable."

Hat-trick man Harshal added: "I was thinking if the batters can't pick my slower balls then the bowlers also will find it difficult to spot (referring to Chahar's wicket that got him the hat-trick).

"I just bet on that. This is my sixth time being on a hat-trick and finally got one, so pretty happy."

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma said he doesn't want to put too much pressure on youngster Ishan Kishan who has scored just 100 plus runs in nine games this IPL season.

"He is a talented player (Ishan Kishan). He's had a terrific IPL last year. We want to back his natural game which is why he came up the order above Surya. I don't want to put too much pressure on the guy. He is relatively young, making his way in international cricket," the MI skipper said after his team slumped to its third straight defeat post resumption.

MI's director of cricket, Zaheer Khan felt that middle-order capitulation paved the way for the defeat.

"It's a form-based situation for us. The middle-order has not fired for us in these last three games. Losing a lot of wickets after a good start was never going to help us recover," he said in a post-match press conference on Sunday.

The defending champions are currently second from the bottom and Zaheer felt they haven't been consistent with their level of performance.

"I think we performed well in patches. In the IPL, you have to play well for 40 overs. We never got going this season."

"There isn't much time to resolve out middle-order muddle. Games are coming in fast and all of them are must-win. It's important that the team sticks together," he said.

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