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'Sad to see': Cricket world in disbelief over Virat Kohli moment

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·4-min read
Virat Kohli, pictured here after being dismissed for a second-consecutive golden duck in the IPL.
Virat Kohli was dismissed for a second-consecutive golden duck in the IPL. Image: IPL

Things have gone from bad to worse for Virat Kohli, with the Indian superstar suffering a second-consecutive golden duck in the IPL.

Kohli, who also fell for a first-ball duck against Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday, came to the crease in the second over of Royal Challengers Bangalore's clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.

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And things couldn't have gone worse for Kohli, who was out first ball again when he nicked South African bowler Marco Jansen to Aiden Markram at second slip.

Kohli pushed hard at a ball angled across him by the left-arm quick and was left in utter disbelief that he was out for a golden duck again.

The standard bearer for Indian cricket who has been replaced by Rohit Sharma as India's captain, Kohli has now scored just 119 runs from his last eight matches and 13 in his last four IPL innings.

"He is somebody who has performed consistently for a number of years at this franchise," said Bangalore head coach Sanjay Bangar.

"I think he is going through a rough patch in the sense things are not going his way at the moment.

"It a tough phase for him certainly but we are very confident that he will come back strong."

Virat Kohli, pictured here leaving the field after a second-straight golden duck in the IPL.
Virat Kohli leaves the field after a second-straight golden duck in the IPL. Image: IPL

Earlier this week, former India coach Ravi Shastri suggested that an "overcooked" Kohli should take a break from the sport, but Bangar said he is taking enough breaks (in international cricket) and needs "a bit of luck to get going".

Former England star Kevin Pietersen said Kohli, who has failed to score a century in his last 100 matches across all formats, has come to a point where he is questioning his own form.

"It's very a lonely, lonely place, especially when you have got all eyes," Pietersen said in commentary.

"That camera not only right here but every single thing is Kohli, Kohli, Kohli and so he is in that dark place.

"I just hope it ends quickly because the game needs him to score runs."

Royal Challengers Bangalore make unwanted history

Bangalore were bowled out for 68, the sixth lowest total in IPL history, and Hyderabad needed just 7.4 overs to win.

Only Glenn Maxwell (12) and Suyash Prabhudessai (15) got into double figures.

Jansen took three wickets in the second over on his way to figures of 3-25, removing Faf du Plessis (5), Anuj Rawat (0) and Kohli (0) to earn man-of-the-match honours

Thangarasu Natarajan took 3-10 in three overs, and left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith took 2-12.

In the straight-forward chase, Abhishek Sharma led with 47 off 28 balls in an opening stand of 64 with Kane Williamson.

Hyderabad romped home with 12 overs to spare and move second in the 10-team table led by Gujarat Titans, who beat Kolkata Knight Riders by eight runs in the first match of the day.

Bangalore, still searching for their maiden title in the Twenty20 tournament, hold the dubious record of the lowest ever score of 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2017.

with agencies

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