Indian Premier League 2023

Watch: Captain Kohli goes up for two inspired reviews to give Siraj two more Powerplay wickets

by Wisden Staff April 20, 2023 - 2:15pm 2 minute read

Watch: Virat Kohli put in an inspired performance on his captaincy return for Royal Challengers Bangalore, reviewing two decisions in the powerplay to secure early wickets.

With regular captain Faf du Plessis only fit enough to bat against Punjab Kings, Kohli took over the reins in the field as RCB looked to defend 174. Off just the second ball of the innings, he reviewed an lbw decision off Mohammed Siraj given not out by umpire Sadashiv Iyer.

The ball was full to Atharva Taide who fell over a touch as the ball made impact with his front pad. Despite the umpire seemingly deciding the ball was going down leg, Kohli’s immediate review showed it to be hitting middle and leg stump.

In another brilliant piece of captaincy, Kohli brought Wanindue Hasaranga on to bowl the third over, earlier than du Plessis had used him. Backed by Kohli, Hasaranga claimed Matthew Short with his first ball. The Australia batter came down the wicket and missed the ball completely, and the ball went on to clatter into the leg stump.

That wicket brought Liam Livingstone to the crease for the first time in IPL 2023. Facing Siraj, Livingstone charged down the pitch and swung wildly across the line and missed, and the ball thumped into his pad. After a long discussion with Siraj and Dinesh Karthik, Kohli signalled to review the decision.

Livingstone was a long way in front of his stumps and some deliberation over bat involvement, but ball tracking showed three reds with the ball hitting the top of leg stump. The wicket left Punjab Kings 27-3 in the final over of the powerplay thanks to a trio of superb captaincy decisions from Kohli.

Kohli’s reviews also gave Siraj yet more wickets in the powerplay, continuing his outstanding record opening the bowling in IPL 2023. He has ten wickets so far in the competition, the joint second most of any bowler.