New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) may have returned to winning ways with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, but the focus soon shifted to the worrying development of Virat Kohli.The RCB talisman, who scored 50 off 38 balls, did not feature due to an ankle problem in Mumbai’s chase, which worried the fans. Kohli was seen watching the match in the dressing room wearing a jacket, with youngster Jacob Bethel taking his place in the outfield.
Why Virat Kohli is staying away from the field
The decision to keep Kohli off the field was taken on precautionary grounds as he experienced discomfort in his ankle during the RCB match. While the team has yet to confirm the seriousness of the incident, the move shows that no risks were taken at a critical stage of the game.To add to the drama, Rohit Sharma also left the field with a hamstring injury during the innings, a rare and worrying sight when two of the modern greats battled fitness issues in the same match.Despite the anxiety, RCB captain Rajat Patidar provided a calming update after the match.“I don’t know yet, but I miss him and I think he’s OK right now,” Patidar said, suggesting the injury may not be serious.
Virat Kohli in Wankhede’s MI innings. (video capture)
Patidar highlights Kohli’s impactPatidar also highlighted how Kohli’s solid start with Phil Salt laid the foundation for RCB’s impressive total of 240/4.“Every time we come here…the atmosphere, the fans…it’s a different feeling,” Patidar said. “The way Virat Bai and Salter started the game, I think that kept us in the driver’s seat. Then me and Tim (David) came in really well and I think it was purely a team effort.”RCB’s batting team came together with Patidar hitting 53 off 20 balls and Tim David also performing well. Mumbai fought back with Sherfane Rutherford’s explosive 31-ball 71 but fell behind at 222/5.Even in a shortened format, Kohli etched his name in the record books by becoming the first batsman to score 1,000 runs against Mumbai Indians. He has now scored 1,030 points against them, cementing his dominance.The innings also featured a 120-run stand with Salt, marking Kohli’s 47th century partnership in T20 matches – the most by any player, surpassing Chris Gayle.While RCB celebrated a crucial win, all eyes are now on Kohli’s recovery with the team and fans hoping that their biggest star returns to fitness quickly.
 may have roared back to winning ways with a commanding 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede.){kind=link}