IPL 2023: Irfan Pathan impressed with Virat Kohli’s captaincy against Punjab Kings

Virat Kohli’s captaincy tactics were praised by former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan during the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) win over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL 2023 on April 20 in Mohali. The win was RCB’s third in the ongoing IPL.

Kohli stepped up as captain after regular skipper Faf du Plessis was unable to play due to a rib injury. Pathan lauded Kohli for his fresh energy and excellent decision-making, particularly in changing bowlers on a regular basis. Pathan specifically mentioned Kohli’s choice to bring in Wanindu Hasaranga in the third over as a “masterstroke” as he knew PBKS’ Matthew Short was challenged by spin. Hasaranga also removed Shahrukh Khan and played a crucial role in RCB’s win.

“When Siraj dismissed Livingstone, he was brought from the other end, and then the fielding (Siraj’s run out of Harpreet Singh). It gets rubbed off when you bring in that much energy. From Virat Kohli’s energy, it seemed as though he had done the run-out,” Pathan said during a post-match discussion on Star Sports.

RCB scored a challenging 175-run target after being invited to bat first, with Kohli and Du Pessis scoring half-centuries. The bowlers then took early wickets as PBKs were bowled out for 150 with 10 balls remaining. Mohammed Siraj took four key wickets and was instrumental in RCB’s victory, earning him the Player of the Match award. Meanwhile, Hasaranga took two wickets, while Wayne Parnell and Harshal Patel picked one each.

The win puts RCB in second place in the IPL 2023 standings with three victories in four matches. The team looks strong with Kohli’s leadership and the excellent performances of their players, including Du Pessis, Siraj, and Hasaranga.

Kohli’s captaincy has been praised by many in the past, and it seems he continues to bring fresh energy and fantastic decision-making to the game. As RCB looks to secure a spot in the playoffs and potentially win their first IPL title, Kohli’s leadership will undoubtedly play a crucial role in their success.