IPL 2022: Virat Kohli dismissed against Lucknow Super Giants

The 2016 Orange Cap champion and former captain Virat Kohli made a shockingly awful performance in his latest game with the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kohli was dismissed with a golden duck in a game against the Lucknow Super Giants yesterday. He was out immediately after the first ball bowled at him.

This is the worst performance he had in the season. It is his fourth golden duck in the IPL and the first in the last five years.

Kohli’s total run this season also did not help his case. He only top-scored 48 runs this season with a total run of 119 runs across 7 games. He averaged less than a quarter-century per match.

“If anyone needs a break, it’s Virat. He has 5-6 years of cricket left in him and you don’t want to lose on that with his brain fried,” said Ravi Shastri, former Team India head coach.

A letter from Yuvraj Singh

Former cricketer Yuvraj Singh shared a touching letter on social media directed to Kohli back in February. They have played together in the past and this is his tribute to him. Singh watched Kohli grows as a cricket player from a prodigy to a legend in the game.

"To the little boy from Delhi @imvkohli. I want to dedicate this special shoe to you, celebrating your career n time as captain which has brought smiles to millions of fans all over the world. I hope you stay the way YOU are, play the way YOU do and keep making the country proud," Yuvraj posted on his Instagram.

"Virat, I’ve seen you grow as a cricketer and as a person. From that young boy in the nets who would walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the legends of Indian cricket, you’re now a legend yourself leading the way for a new generation.”

Yuvraj, the former RCB player himself, continued by saying Kohli has become an inspiration for every child in India.

“Your discipline and passion on the field and dedication to the sport inspire every young kid in this country to pick up the bat and dream of putting on the blue jersey one day,” he added.

"You have elevated your level of cricket every single year and achieved so much already in this wonderful game that it makes me even more excited to watch you embark on this new chapter in your career. You have been a legendary captain and a fantastic leader. I’m expecting many more of your famous run chases.”

The Match

RCB faced LSG on Tuesday, April 19, 2022. It was the 31st game out of 70 of the IPL T20 2022 tournament. The game ended with Bangalore winning by 18 runs in the match held at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.

The game started with the Challengers taking the pitch and bat in the first innings. The team scored 181 runs in 20 overs. The top scorer for the team is skipper Faf du Plessis who runs a little short of one century at 96 runs off 64 balls. The two other top scorers, Shahbaz Ahmed and Glenn Maxwell, only scored around a quarter of a century each.

“Faf had a few lean games but tonight he took his time, kept the score going and finished with a bang, so credit to him,” said teammate Josh Hazlewood.

Lucknow took the bat in the second innings and was supposed to chase RCB’s score earlier. But they did not seem to run fast enough to catch up and only scored 163 runs in 20 overs. The top scorers for the team are Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul, and Marcus Stoinis.

Bangalore is now ranked second just behind Gujarat Titans who top the list. Although losing in this game, the Super Giants are ranked fourth as of their last game.