Bangalore’s Director of Cricket Operations Mike Hesson speaks about Virat Kohli’s off-form

Much to the disappointment of Indian cricket fans, Virat Kohli’s slump in form continued in Bangalore’s last against Punjab. Bangalore was chasing a target of 210 runs in the match. Kohli looked in fine touch while opening for his side. He played some brilliant shots and was looking on course to play an impactful knock. But Kagiso Rabada dismissed him when he was batting at 20 runs from 14 balls.

While walking back Kohli looked extremely disappointed and frustrated as he looked at the sky in exasperation. It was a vital game for Bangalore as a win in the match would have taken them closer to the playoffs. But the Faf du Plessis-led side failed to chase down 210 runs and lost the match by 54 runs.

Bangalore’s Director of Cricket Operations, Mike Hesson spoke about Kohli’s lean patch with the bat and revealed that the batter himself is as frustrated as anyone else. “Virat, I thought looked very good today. He looked in good touch, he was aggressive, and he is doing everything off the park as well in terms of making sure he prepares well”- said Hesson during the post-match conference.

“I thought today was going to be his day but once again it hits the other side of the thigh pad and goes down and he gets a single. He hasn’t had a huge amount of fortune especially when he has got himself in. He is as frustrated as anybody. We thought today was going to be the day,”- he added.

Speaking of Kohli’s performance in the season, he has scored three golden ducks in the season so far. Though he scored 50 runs in the tournament once, it was not the trademark Kohli knock the fans were hoping to see. As the Indian T20 League, 2022 is approaching its business end many fans and experts are of the opinion that the Bangalore team management must take a tough call and replace Kohli in the final eleven. But Mike Hesson has testified otherwise and said that they will be backing the talismanic batter.