Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli said that Mumbai players Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu’s scintillating 122-run partnership had taken the game out of the hands of his side in their Indian Premier League match here today.
“One good partnership can change the face of a match and that’s what happened today. Credit should go to them for seeing their team go past our target inspite of losing five early wickets,” Kohli told reporters at post-match press conference.
Kohli said Bangalore was a good wicket to bat on and smallness of the ground also helped Mumbai Indians to score quickly.
“Our bowlers too found it hard to grip the ball in the second innings,” he said.
PTI
Kohli also tried to put up a brave face, saying that his team was playing good cricket, especially in last few games and hoped to play to their potential in last two must-win matches against Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers.
Meanwhile, Pollard said the ploy to see off the dangerous Muttiah Muralitharan in his last two overs paid off well for his side to go for a kill towards the end at the other bowlers.
“Bangalore ground is also small which helped us to get some big overs and the wicket was good to bat on,” he said.
More than getting a couple of fifties in this IPL, Pollard said he cherished the knocks which had helped Mumbai Indians win games.
“Getting a fifty is nothing big. What matters is has my fifty won us the game?” he said.
PTI
