We wanted to win with balls to spare as it will benefit the NRR: Virat Kohli

After MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings, there is no bond in Indian cricket stronger than Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The former Indian skipper’s dominance at the Chinnaswmay Stadium is well documented, as Kohli scored his 23rd T20 half-century at the venue to guide RCB to their first win of the tournament against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.

His successor Faf du Plessis ably supported him, whose 73 runs landed the base to chase down the 172-run target in 16.2 overs. Kohli put it down to their wish to finish the game early in order to hold the NRR advantage going forward.

“I thought it was a phenomenal win, a homecoming after four years,” Kohli said in the post-match interview with the host broadcaster. “Couldn't have asked for a better game. We bowled well for the first 17 overs but then credit to their batters, especially Tilak, who batted really well. It was a very comprehensive win, and we wanted to win with balls to spare as it would benefit the NRR.”

For RCB, Reece Topley, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep provided early blows with the ball, and that unsettled Mumbai, reducing them to 48/4 in 8.5 overs. Mumbai, however, wrested some control in the last five overs, with Tilak Verma taking charge wih a 46-ball 84. The tide further turned when du Plessis and Kohli came out to bat.

“The new ball was tricky, that's where we shifted the momentum, they can ride on that momentum from the last two overs of their batting but the way we started nullified all that momentum. We kept the pressure on the bowlers. Very important we started off well, their support propelled us and that makes a massive difference.”

Kohli further highlighted the consistency of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, and how despite not winning a title, they are still one of the most consistent teams in the league’s history.

“I wanted to mention this for a while - after MI, who have five titles and CSK, who have four, if I'm not wrong, we are the third team to have qualified the most to the playoffs - eight times. Take one game at a time and try to be a balanced side which we are and we would look to execute our plans as we did tonight,” Kohli concluded.