If Virat Kohli scores 600 plus runs this IPL season, RCB will be amongst top three teams: Nikhil Chopra

Virat Kohli has built a reputation of being one of the most explosive batters in the world, and despite going through a lean phase at the international level, there is hardly any effect on his stature. Kohli is currently representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and played a crucial knock in the first game against Punjab Kings.

Kohli showed positive signs at the start of the two-month long tournament and watching him play like that, many cricket pundits have predicted that the charismatic batter will be a force to reckon with this season. While speaking on Sky247.net, which presents ‘Not Just Cricket Show’ on CricTracker, former cricketer Nikhil Chopra agreed with former RCB player AB de Villiers who recently claimed that Kohli would amass more than 600 runs the season.

“If Kohi scores more than 600 plus, RCB will be amongst the top three teams. He is in good form and must convert it into runs and victories for RCB,” Chopra said on the show. “Virat is a vital cog in the squad and has set such benchmark for others that everyone looks up to him. After the first game, he must be high on confidence, and we can expect some power-packed performance from him,” he added.

What did De Villiers say about Virat Kohli?

While speaking on the VUSport Streaming YouTube channel, De Villiers stated that Virat Kohli would score 600 plus runs in the tournament. He said, “I am expecting a big show from Kohli, he is relieved of captaincy responsibilities, and now I am hoping him to unleash his best batting potential in the tournament.”

Notably, IPL 2016 brought the best out of Kohli as the former RCB skipper amassed 973 runs in 16 innings at an impressive strike rate of above 152. Leading from the front, he smashed four centuries in that season and stormed into the finals. However, RCB lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 runs in the summit clash. Virat Kohli won the Orange Cap for being the highest run-getter in the tournament.