Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore have a ‘huge challenge’ when IPL 2021 resumes: Gautam Gambhir

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has so far scored 198 runs in 7 games with one half-century and a strike-rate of 121 in IPL 2021.

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli. (Photo: BCCI/IPL)

Virat Kohli and his Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will be up against a huge challenge when Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 resumes in the UAE on Sunday (September 19). RCB are currently in the third position on the points table with 10 points from 7 games so far, level with MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings.

Talking about India skipper Kohli and his RCB teammate AB de Villiers, former India opener Gautam Gambhir said they will come into the tournament with different challenges.

“There’s going to be a challenge for Virat and there's going to be a huge challenge for AB de Villiers as well because he will be coming into the tournament without playing any cricket at all. Virat Kohli will have to adjust really quickly because there'll be hardly any time for him to get used to it,” Gambhir said on Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’.

“From the five-Test-match series to the T20 format, and AB as well, because these guys need to get runs if they have to have a chance to first qualify for the playoffs and then probably go on to win the title,” the former Kolkata Knight Riders captain added.

Kohli has so far scored 198 runs in 7 games with one half-century and a strike-rate of 121.

Bold Diaries: Virat Kohli & Mohammed Siraj join RCB

"The replacement players have great skillsets, especially in these conditions. Excited to see them with the whole group & to resume a very good season that we started last time around," says captain Kohli.#PlayBold #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/VvqKN3qhLo — Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) September 13, 2021

Gambhir expects KL Rahul to have a stupendous IPL 2021 campaign when the league resumes later this week as he believes that the opener’s best has not yet been seen despite an average of over 50 in the last three seasons.

Punjab Kings captain Rahul is averaging 66 after seven matches this year with a strike rate of 136. The IPL was suspended in May due to COVID-19 cases in its bubble and will resume on Sunday in the UAE.

“We haven’t seen the best of KL Rahul. Yes, he has got runs, but we still haven't seen, what he can achieve in his batting,” Gambhir felt. “You could have a season like Virat Kohli had once. He's that kind of a player in white-ball cricket, where he can get 2-3 hundreds in a season and at a very good strike rate as well.”

The 29-year-old Rahul has already amassed 331 runs from seven games this year, including four half centuries. He is second on the list of 2021 IPL’s top-scorers.

Speaking of other teams, Gambhir said the conditions in the UAE will favour defending champions Mumbai Indians. Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings will clash in the first match after resumption on Sunday.

“When you see the conditions in Chepauk or Delhi, they are completely different from what you get at Wankhede. And, as I mentioned, they are going into conditions that are suited to their fast bowling – people like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult,” Gambhir said.

“There will be swing upfront, so they will be very dangerous. Plus, Mumbai wants balls to swing and you've got quality fast bowlers and it's going to be an advantage for them. Plus their batters, want the balls to come on to the bat as well, people like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, all those guys struggled at Chepauk, because it was gripping and turning.”

Gambhir also felt that Mumbai Indians can’t afford a slow start since they might need to win five of their remaining seven matches to qualify for the Play-offs.