Virat Kohli slams ‘worst batting performance’ after RCB’s IPL record low score

Virat Kohli blamed ‘reckless batting’ for Royal Challengers Bangalore’s woeful performance against Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter.

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli was left seething after his side were shot out for 49 - the lowest score recorded in the 10 editions of the Indian Premier League - in the 82-run loss against Kolkata Knight Riders. (HIGHLIGHTS)

Virat Kohli was dismissed for a duck as Royal Challengers were bowled out for just 49 against Kolkata Knight Riders. (AFP)

Usually feared for their array of power-hitters, Royal Challengers Bangalore were laid low by Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday thanks to a brilliant display from their pace attack. (SCORECARD)

“After the kind of half that we had, we thought we could capitalise and chase it down. Reckless batting. I can’t say anything at the moment,” said a furious Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper, Virat Kohli. “It was that bad. This is just not acceptable.”

“Our worst batting performance, it really hurts.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore, the finalists of IPL 2016, had restricted Gautam Gambhir’s Kolkata Knight Riders to 131 all out in 19.3 overs after they had elected to bowl first.

However, in a horror show that followed, RCB did not even last till the halfway mark, bowled out in 9.4 overs. It was worse than the lowest total in IPL --- 58 all out of Rajasthan Royals against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Cape Town, 2009.

The RCB collapse began with Kohli’s dismissal by KKR pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile for a golden duck in the third ball of the innings.

READ | IPL 2017: Kolkata Knight Riders thrash Royal Challengers Bangalore by 82 runs

“The sightscreen is very small here, one guy got up as the bowler was loading up, that distracted me. Still it wasn’t a big deal. That was just one down. Nine guys could do the job,” Kohli bemoaned.

“There’s nothing to review anything about the second half, it was that bad. We need to forget it and move forward. We’re a much better team. We got 200 plus in the last game. I’m sure everyone realises what they’ve done wrong. You have to come out, show intent and back yourselves. I’m sure we won’t bat like that again in the tournament.

“We’ve got back-to-back games, need to try and win those to get some momentum.”