'He brings the energy' - Legends lavish praises on Virat Kohli after his powerful knock against Mumbai Indians

Virat Kohli initiated his Indian Premier League 2023 campaign on a high as the 34-year-old played an incredible knock of 82 runs, carrying the bat through to help Royal Challengers Bangalore chase down a 172-run target against Mumbai Indians. 

After a rather disciplined show by the RCB bowlers, Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis went all guns blazing to take down the MI bowlers. The duo put up 148 runs for the first wicket before Du Plessis fell at the score of 73. Kohli, on the other hand, continued his run and remained not out to comfortably take RCB home. His 49-ball 82 was studded with six fours and five sixes. 

Following Kohli's valiant efforts, many stars of the yesteryears have come forward to congratulate the former Indian and RCB skipper and lavish praises on him. 

Former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis said that Kohli didn't initially go hard for sixes but looked to hit fours along the ground. 

“He brings the energy. He's a difficult guy to bowl to, because upfront, he doesn't hurt you with hitting those big sixes, he plays some ball to the ground, knocks it around, hurts you with fours. So, it's the consistency that's there. The partnership with Faf, he played the more aggressive role. He played the perfect game tonight,” said Kallis.

On the other hand, Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar seemed particularly fascinated with Kohli's six off Jofra Archer which he had flicked during the latter half of the chase.

“The pull shot for six towards the end, it was a slower delivery. But he got to the position so quickly, and he just flicked it as he was flicking a fly. And it went deep,” Gavaskar commented.

'There's no pressure on Virat' - Former teammate Chris Gayle opines as he and AB de Villiers come together to speak about Kohli

While talking to JioCinema after the match, former destructive Caribbean opener Chris Gayle commented on his former RCB teammate and also mentioned that he and former South African great AB de Villiers had talked about Virat before the start of the tournament. 

"I'm sure. There's no pressure on Virat. We talked about him before the tournament, me and AB. AB said, 'hey, he's a bit hungry. There's no pressure. And we have seen Virat in 2016. And this could be trouble for bowlers'. He got a brilliant start, 88 not out (82 not out). There's going to be carnage for bowlers in the days to come,” Gayle said.

Gayle also celebrated the return of the tournament to Bangalore after four years and mentioned that the players needed to satisfy the fans upon their homecoming. 

"It will help a lot. Fans have a big part to play in this as well. We had a home game after four years, and you have to prove something to the home fans as well. They have to make sure they're happy," he further added.