Intro:
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Tim David has praised Virat Kohli for remaining calm and unaffected despite a brief lean patch
Dharamshala
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Tim David has lauded Virat Kohli’s composure and professionalism after the veteran batter bounced back strongly from two low scores earlier this season with a match-winning century against Kolkata Knight Riders.
David said Kohli never appeared mentally affected during his brief dip in form and maintained the same positive approach throughout.
“To be honest, he doesn’t change. You wouldn’t have known he had two ducks unless you had been watching TV,” David said while interacting with broadcasters before the match.
Kohli recently silenced criticism by scoring a brilliant century against Kolkata Knight Riders, reaffirming his status as one of the most dependable batters in the tournament. David said the hundred was not only important for Kohli personally but also a major boost for the franchise and its supporters.
The Australian power-hitter also highlighted that Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s strong campaign this season has been built on collective performances rather than depending solely on one individual. According to David, several players have stepped up at different stages to help the team remain among the top sides in the competition.
David praised RCB’s top-order batters for playing fearless cricket and putting opposition bowlers under pressure early in the innings. He said their aggressive yet controlled approach has given the middle-order greater freedom and confidence to play according to the match situation.
“At the top, we have some really classy players who express themselves confidently and play aggressive cricketing shots,” David added.
The hard-hitting batter admitted that some lower middle-order players, including himself, have not always received enough time in the middle due to the consistency of the top order. However, he said he remains satisfied with his own batting form and continues to focus on contributing whenever the team needs him.
David further stressed the importance of calm decision-making in pressure situations and said maintaining composure remains crucial in T20 cricket.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru currently sit at the top of the IPL 2026 points table with 16 points from 12 matches. A victory over Punjab Kings would officially secure their place in the playoffs.