'Dropped Boult so that Kohli can play entire PP'- Virat Kohli trolled for "Test match knock" against Rajasthan Royals

Virat Kohli: (Image Source: Twitter)

The 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League has been lit up by some truly special batting performances, including glorious centuries and some spectacular displays of power hitting. As such, when a batter plays an innings that is more sedate, it stands out even more than before and fans are quick to pounce.

On Sunday, May 14, Royal Challengers Bangalore went up against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur needing a win to keep their chances of making the playoffs alive. Bangalore went into the game seventh in the table, with the Royals two spots above them in fifth.

Winning the toss, Bangalore elected to bat first, with Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis making their way out to the crease.

The track used at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium was a sluggish one, with both batters struggling to find their rhythm. Kohli did begin his innings with a boundary in the first over of the game, bowled by Sandeep Sharma, but could not find his touch. That was the only boundary he would manage in his innings was indeed a sluggish one as he was eventually dismissed for a scratchy 19-ball 18.

Kohli was eventually dismissed in the seventh over by KM Asif, who flummoxed the star batter with a superb knuckle ball that he could only chip to Yashasvi Jaiswal after charging down the pitch and being beaten for pace.

RCB fans, knowing the importance of a good start to the game, were highly critical of this performance, calling it a "Test match knock" on social media.

Losing Kohli cheaply did not derail the RCB innings that much, however, as Glenn Maxwell joined du Plessis at the crease to get the innings back on track. Both overseas players notched up half-centuries before some late fireworks from Anuj Rawat carried Bangalore to 171/5 in their 20 overs.

Here's a look at how fans reacted to Virat Kohli's sluggish knock against RR:

Dushmanu ki nazar lag gayi virat ko

— annaya عنایہ🇵🇰 (@annayakhan271) May 14, 2023

Advantage for rcb

— Ronak Dev (@Rohitt047) May 14, 2023

disadvantage rr 😭

— 𝗔𝘆𝘂𝘀𝗵 🇮🇳 (@RofiedAyush) May 14, 2023

He's playing way too slow, the slow you play as opener, the more pressure you create on the middle order !

— Harsh Tegta (@tegtaharsh97) May 14, 2023

Now today rcb out hogi ki nahi ipl 2023 tournament se

— Rahul (@rahul72_rahul72) May 14, 2023

Tribute to his jersey no

— Harshal (@HarshalLahane1) May 14, 2023

KohIi stats in knockout games for RCB -

16 Avg
114 SR

GREATEST CH0KER OF ALL TIME.....!

— Rahul Patil (@RahulPatil7A) May 14, 2023

Chokli 😂

— Rahul Sharma (@RahulSh24082787) May 14, 2023

It was almost expected that Virat would throw his wicket after the way he started his inning. He was slow, and there was a pressure on him to improve his strikerate.

— Vipin Tiwari (@vipintiwari952) May 14, 2023

Kohli saab practising for ODI World Cup already...

— Jatin Khandelwal (@Jatin_Cricket_) May 14, 2023