Virat Kohli described Devdutt Padikkal’s decisive innings as the spark that helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Gujarat Titans in a dramatic, run-fuelled contest at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. In a chase targeting 207, Kohli produced a vintage 81 off 44 balls after being dropped on 0 by Washington Sundar, guiding RCB to the finish line in their last match at the venue this season. Even though Kohli received the “Man of the Match” recognition, he insisted the credit belonged to Padikkal’s 55 (27), saying the left-hander blunted the threat early and set the tone for the chase.
Kohli’s big contribution and the turning point
RCB’s pursuit at Chinnaswamy began with measured intent before Padikkal shifted gears. Kohli said the team had to evaluate the pitch and the match situation quickly because Gujarat possessed a bowling unit capable of applying pressure, especially when targets of around 200 are involved at a ground that typically rewards batting.
- Kohli was dropped on 0 by Washington Sundar during his innings.
- Kohli struck 81 off 44 deliveries in RCB’s chase of 206.
- Padikkal’s 55 off 27 balls was central to the momentum swing that RCB needed.
- Kohli argued Padikkal’s controlled, low-drama strokeplay prevented Gujarat from fully taking control of the chase.
What Kohli said about pressure, partnerships and the chase plan
After the match, Kohli explained that Bengaluru were never far from the target but had to keep believing in the process as the game moved through its key phases. He pointed to how Padikkal’s innings shaped the first half of the chase and then how Kohli tried to manage his own batting rhythm to ensure Padikkal did not feel the weight of expectations.
“To be honest, we had to assess the wicket early on because they have a quality bowling attack and chasing 200 in the Chinnaswamy, we were just one partnership away. This is the second time Dev has come and done this. You never see him slogging the ball yet he’s playing so freely. His innings was the difference in the first half and then I was trying to stay in the game so he won’t feel the pressure. Even in our bowling innings, we did well to pull things back. We were looking at 230-235 at one stage,” Kohli said.
Pitch conditions and Kohli’s view of the batting depth
Kohli also credited the surface for being among the best batting tracks at the venue this season. He suggested that the wicket allowed both himself and Padikkal to score quickly and steadily, which helped RCB take control of the game from the start of the chase.
“The feedback was the pitch was not bad at all. Best batting conditions we’ve had this season. So if we stayed in the game long enough it would get tougher and tougher for bowlers. Dev was going great guns and the idea was to keep the pressure on the bowlers. There was intent, clarity and feedback from the other and and we didn’t have any doubts in the partnership and that’s what worked for us,” he added.
Responding to the mini-collapse and praising the middle order
Addressing RCB’s brief wobble after Kohli’s dismissal, Kohli remained confident in the team’s ability to absorb pressure and finish games strongly. He highlighted the lower middle-order, naming Tim David, Krunal Pandya and Romario Shepherd as key reasons Bengaluru could maintain the momentum even when wickets fell.
- Kohli pointed to the “body language” coming from a strong belief in the squad’s batting options.
- He cited Tim David and Romario Shepherd for power.
- He credited Krunal Pandya with the “smarts” to manage situations.
- Kohli’s message was straightforward: pick the right ball to hit and go for it, backed by depth in the batting lineup.
RCB’s comfort at Chinnaswamy
Kohli also looked beyond the single result, noting how pleased the team was to have played five matches at Chinnaswamy and how the fans had again been able to see Bengaluru in action. He described the stadium as a “special place to play cricket” and expressed hope that RCB would return later in the season.
“Firstly, we were quite happy we were able to play five games here and the fans get to see the team again. Special place to play cricket and hopefully we’ll be able to come back and play here again later in the season,” Kohli said.
