Virat Kohli once again proved why he is regarded as one of the finest chasers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, delivering a match-winning knock against Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
Chasing a target of 206, Kohli led from the front with a brilliant 81 off 44 balls, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secure a five-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.
However, Gujarat Titans had an early opportunity to change the course of the match when Kohli was dropped in the very first over. Washington Sundar failed to hold on to a straightforward catch at mid-wicket off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling, giving the RCB batter a lifeline.
Kohli made full use of the reprieve, smashing eight fours and four sixes in a dominant innings that put Gujarat Titans under pressure throughout the chase.
Former West Indies pacer Ian Bishop sympathised with Sundar but stressed the need for improvement in his fielding standards.
“No, I see that differently. We have all dropped catches. You don’t pick and choose which ones you drop. But what I would ask Washy is that your level of fielding has got to go up. He’s a young guy, athletic enough,” Bishop said on ESPNcricinfo’s ‘TimeOut’.
He added that repeated lapses in fielding have been a concern.
“For too long, I have been seeing missed opportunities with him. So I would ask him to put a little more work in that so he becomes an asset in the field in addition to all the other things,” he said.
Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn also agreed, saying chances like Kohli’s are crucial and must not be missed.
“Can’t drop Kohli. The guy who’s going to be one of the best chasers in the world. That catch, actually, doesn’t matter who it is; you just can’t drop that,” Steyn said.
The dropped chance proved costly as Kohli anchored RCB’s chase with ease, ensuring a comfortable win for the defending champions. (Agency)
