LSG vs RCB: Virat Kohli looks focused, no cuddles and no hellos - Kevin Pietersen
India Today
IPL 2022: RCB star Virat Kohli departed for a golden duck on Tuesday but former England batter kevin Pietersen said the India batter is looking as determined as ever and focussed durring his training sessions.
Virat Kohli might take time to make the transition between having been the King and playing the soldier's role yet again at Royal Challengers Bangalore, according to former England captain Kevin Pietersen. The batting great, who had led RCB in the past, said the struggle to ease into the role is evident with the way Kohli has approached his game in IPL 2022.
Virat Kohli gave up RCB captaincy at the end of the IPL 2021 season, citing workload management. Despite stepping down from India captaincy roles, he did not return as the skipper of the Bengaluru-based franchise which appointed former Chennai Super Kings opener Faf du Plessis as the captain for the new season.
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While the absence of the burden of captaincy was, according to pundits, expected to rejuvenate Virat Kohli who has been struggling for consistency across all formats, the India star hasn't got going so far in the new season even as RCB have won 4 of their first 6 mathces.
Kohli has managed just 119 runs in 6 matches and his strike rate which is lingering just above 120 is also a cause for concern. The former skipper had begun IPL 2022 with a brisk 41 against Punjab Kings and showed signs of return to form with a 48 against Mumbai Indians but the star batter has gotten run-out twice.
Kohli was dismissed for a golden duck on Tuesday in RCB's crunch contest against LSG in Mumbai. Kohli hit his first delivery from Dushmantha Chameera straight into the hands of the point fielder.
"Virat Kohli, he likes to be the star of the show. But now Faf du Plessis is the star of the show. He is the one who is running the ship. He gets the big suite in the hotel or maybe no, Virat might still get a bigger room than anyone else. However, it's very difficult to become a soldier again. You are not the one in the middle who is making the big decisions. You are not the one who is commanding respect," Pietersen told Star Sports.
