IPL: We need to do our best for Kohli, says RCB skipper Rajat Patidar

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU skipper Rajat Patidar feels that ending the title drought at this year's Indian Premier League final will be the biggest tribute to veteran batter Virat Kohli, who has given 18 years of his career to the club.

Bengaluru has so far played three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016, but ended up on the losing side in these summit clashes. This year, it is pitted against Punjab Kings.

At a pre-match press conference in Ahmedabad alongside Punjab King's skipper Shreyas Iyer, Patidar said, “Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game.”

When asked if focus on one player alone was frustrating given RCB have been one of the most dominant sides in this competition, Patidar replied, “I think it is not frustrating for me..

The Kohli factor has certainly weighed heavily on RCB, drawing strong crowd support even while playing away from home, and Patidar said that gives them a feeling of being on their home ground.

RCB, however, will be concerned over the availability of big-hitting Tim David, who has not featured in their last two matches so far owing to a hamstring injury.

For Patidar himself, it will be a big challenge given he was appointed RCB’s captain only before the start of the tournament, while the leader in the opposition camp, Shreyas Iyer won the IPL with his former franchise Kolkata Knight Riders last year.

Iyer is also the only captain in IPL history to have led three different teams — Delhi Capitals, KKR and now Punjab Kings — into IPL finals.

Job half done: Iyer

After winning against Mumbai on Sunday, Punjab skipper said, "I love to play the situation as much as possible and not get too much ahead of the game. If I'm chasing, I see the required run rate and how the wicket is playing and which all bowlers are going to come.

"Based on that, I plan my tactics and also I see to it that I take the game to the end. All these planning have to be precise and has to work on the given day."

Iyer said since he felt "the job is only half done", he did not feel like celebrating on Sunday.

"It's not yet finished. We have another match tomorrow. From that mindset, my approach was that my job is half done. I have to come back tomorrow," he said.

Iyer did not make it all about himself, acknowledging that the contributions from others have allowed him to play with freedom.

"The role of a captain is that you have to get the best out of your players in terms of performance, and when we got a start in this tournament with two victories, we got a momentum and after that every individual kept stepping up.

"There are a lot of youngsters in our team, you got to see their fearless nature. Right from ball one, they dictated terms and they are still doing it."

Iyer also praised coach Ricky Ponting for rallying around the troops well this season.

"He is an amazing coach who manages the player precisely and I personally feel that one thing that stands out with him is that he treats everyone equally," Iyer said when asked about the former Australian captain.

"That gives a real big boost to every individual, whether he is a junior or a senior. When you know that the coach is treating everyone equally, you are positive and you get that freedom from him to go out there and express the best of your abilities."

Iyer agreed that this year's IPL final against a team led by Rajat Patidar brought back memories of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy earlier this season.

The Iyer-led Mumbai had beaten Madhya Pradesh to win the premier domestic T20 tournament.

"Yes, I am getting the Mushtaq Ali feeling. When I met Rajat, I told him that the Mushtaq Ali (final) is getting repeated, we both are back in the final," he said. (PTI)