Punjab kingsSouth African speedster Kagiso Rabada has described Virat Kohli as the most difficult batsman to bowl at the highest level of cricket.
Kagiso Rabada made this claim just a day before his clash with Virat Kohli in the home game of Punjab Kings Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the course of the day. The mesmerizing HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala will host the match and after welcoming MS Dhoni in the previous match, the stadium is gearing up to welcome another Indian cricket icon.
What did Kagiso Rabada say about Virat Kohli?
While I was talking to Australia On the Willow Talk Podcast, Kagiso Rabada recently praised Indian batting star Virat Kohli (as usual). Rabada has already faced Kohli once in IPL 2024 and before that, the duo had faced each other directly during a two-match Test series in December and January.
The Indian team had traveled to South Africa for an all-format series and there Virat Kohli faced Kagiso Rabada in the red-ball affair. In the 1st Test match at Centurion, Rabada had scalped Kohli’s wicket for a score of 38. In the 2nd innings before the Proteas claimed victory The speedster caught up with him with one innings and 32 runs after a throw from Marco Jansen.
In the 2nd Test, which India won by 7 wickets, Kagiso Rabada again bowled out Virat Kohli for 46, with Marco Jansen winning the latter in the other innings. So the rivalry between Rabada and Kohli is huge and tonight the duo will add another chapter to this rivalry.
Ahead of the all-important clash between Punjab and Bengaluru, Kagiso Rabada claimed that Virat Kohli’s determination to dominate is amazing. Rabada feels Kohli has everything covered in his gameplay and highlighted his hunger for runs and fitness that has taken his game to the next level.
“It is an extremely difficult bowl for Virat Kohli. Because his willingness to get to the top is amazing. He has everything in his game. “His hunger for runs is amazing, his fitness, his defense, he has a strong game too.” – Rabada said on Willow Talk Podcast.
Virat Kohli is indeed having another memorable season in the Indian Premier League this year. The former India captain has scored 542 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 148 and is currently at an average of 67.75. He has 4 half-centuries to his name and also has a century to his name. Kohli is currently leading the Orange Cap race with Ruturaj Gaikwad just a run behind him.
Bengaluru are looking to win only their second game in Dharamshala
In the direct duel between Punjab and Bengaluru, the North Indian team has the upper hand with 17 wins. The South Indians, on the other hand, have won 15 of the 32 matches between them since 2008. In Dharamshala, Punjab and Bengaluru have met only once and tonight’s clash will be their second at the HPCA Stadium.
Punjab had defeated RCB by 111 runs in their last meeting at Dharamshala in 2011.