As Kohli speaks to Lara, Bangar backs RCB batsman to come back strong

Virat Kohli is doing “everything under his control” and needs a bit of luck going his way, according to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) head coach Sanjay Bangar, who feels the former India captain will surely come out of the prolonged lean patch soon.

On Saturday, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) beat RCB by nine wickets after dismantling the star-studded batting line-up for a mere 68 runs.

After the match, Kohli was seen speaking to West Indies legend Brian Lara, who is currently with SRH as the team’s strategic advisor and batting coach.

Also read: For first time in IPL, Kohli bags 2 successive golden ducks

Kohli, who hasn’t scored a hundred in any format for more than three years now, has got out to first-ball ducks in successive games with a familiar pattern of dismissals outside the off-stump.

“He (Kohli) is somebody who has consistently performed for RCB. Players go through these kind of rough patches. He started the season really well, nearly hit the winning runs in Pune but then you have an odd run-out or the first edge that finds his bat lands in fielders hands,” Bangar, a long-time India batting coach, said.

“We have all been through it, it is a tough phase for him but he will come back pretty strong.”

Bangar side-stepped the issue of Kohli needing a long break as former national team head coach Ravi Shastri feels that he is “over-cooked”.

“He is certainly doing everything that is in his control. He is doing his fitness and skills and taking good breaks and not letting the pressure get to him. He has been taking breaks at regular intervals and will continue to do so going forward,” he said.

Kohli speaks to Lara

Bangar was stout in his defence for Kohli, saying that he understands people have their opinions since he has been such an important player for India for such a long time.

“Even if you look at South Africa series, the 80-odd that he scored in one of the Test matches was a fine innings,” Bangar said.

Kohli has had scores of 41 not out, 12, 5, 48, 1, 12, 0, 0 in RCBs eight outings this season. Bangar feels the 33-year-old needs some luck going his way.

“He’s not letting the pressure get to him, he’s enjoying the skill sessions. He needs a bit of luck to get going, all the dismissals and first ball, second balls but I’m sure once he gets going, he’s due for a big one.”