CHENNAI – As the sun began to set over the MA Chidambaram Stadium, the floodlights were yet to illuminate the field, but Virat Kohli was already hard at work, honing his skills on Thursday. This dedication underscores the intensity with which the champion batter is preparing to face a team that has historically posed challenges for him in the IPL.
Following an intense training session, Kohli’s commitment to excellence was further highlighted at the pre-match press conference by RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik. Karthik, visibly impressed by Kohli’s relentless pursuit of perfection, shared, “I spoke to him just now as I came out and he said that he wanted to work on one more shot. At this point of time, to work on one more shot tells you the hunger he has. He wants to just improve and keep raising the bar. He’s a special player. The way I see it, he’s batting as confidently and as well as he has ever done in the IPL.”
Despite the MA Chidambaram Stadium not being a favored venue for Kohli in the IPL, his unbeaten 90 off 52 balls against CSK in Dubai in 2021 stands as the highest individual score by an RCB batter against the five-time champions. However, his performance against CSK spinners at Chepauk has been less dominant, with a highest score of 58 at a strike rate of 113, which is slightly below his usual standards. Karthik, however, remains confident in Kohli’s ability to tackle spin, citing his recent performances in major tournaments.
“Kohli scored some serious runs in the recent Champions Trophy. He has batted well against spinners in the recent past, especially in white-ball cricket. He was the second-highest run-getter in Dubai and that doesn’t come without playing spin. I believe right now he’s batting as well as he has ever done,” Karthik affirmed.
While the focus remains on seasoned stars like Kohli, the emergence of Rachin Ravindra, the young New Zealand all-rounder, has added an exciting dimension to the Chennai Super Kings’ lineup. Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 in the season opener against Mumbai Indians showcased his potential, and his performance could be crucial against RCB.
His ability to handle spin effectively makes him a vital part of CSK’s batting order, a trait that head coach Stephen Fleming praised. “His game against spin has always been very good. His development over the last 12 months has been excellent. His last game against RCB (IPL 2024), was one of his best innings (61 off 37 balls). He’s contributed a number of runs for New Zealand. His knock against MI was superb in terms of controlling the tempo of the game. He’s got the power and he’s street-smart,” Fleming noted.