IPL 2018: Why Virat Kohli Refused To Wear Orange Cap After Becoming Highest Run-scorer Of The Season?

IPL 2018, MI vs RCB: Virat Kohli lost his cool despite receiving the orange cap after his unbeaten 92 against Mumbai Indians

By: Arun Rawal |
April 18, 2018 4:28 pm

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli was upset with his team’s dismal show against Mumbai Indians (MI). After finishing last in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 points table, RCB have not got off to an ideal start in IPL 2018. They were outclassed by MI, losing to them by a big margin of 46 runs.

Kohli led a lone battle, scoring 92 runs from 62 balls unbeaten, while other batsmen struggled to score in double digits. Only Quinton de Kock, Mandeep Singh and Chris Woakes scored in double digits while others succumbed to the pressure of chasing a daunting total of 214 and got out without leaving any impact.

RCB have now lost 3 out of 4 games they have played and are placed 7th on the IPL points table. Kohli could not hide his disappointment when commentator Daniel Morrison handed him the orange cap. Kohli expressed,

“I don’t really want to wear this (orange cap) right now. Mumbai played well, we didn’t get any chances, and when you have your back against the wall – like they did – they could play fearlessly. We tried our hardest but couldn’t get the breakthroughs in after the two early wickets.”

ALSO READ: IPL 2018, MI vs RCB: Ball Hits Ishan Kishan Near His Right Eye, Might Miss Next Few Games

Kohli’s innings had 7 fours and 4 sixes. He played at a strike rate of 148.39. He is currently leading the list of highest run-scorers of this season with 201 runs in four matches. He has Rajasthan Royals (RR) batsman Sanju Samson breathing down his neck with 178 runs followed by Andre Russell with 152 runs.

“It was a good game of cricket as far as Mumbai were concerned. I don’t feel like wearing this (orange cap) right now because it really doesn’t matter. We got off to a great start but we just threw it away, and need to reflect on our dismissals. We knew there would be a little bit of dew, we needed not your 40-45s but 80-85s.”

ALSO READ: IPL 2018, MI vs RCB: Fan Takes One-Handed Catch In Wankhede Stands, Becomes Lakhpati — Watch

Earlier, it was Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis’ innings that brought MI back on track. Lewis scored his first IPL half-century whereas Rohit missed out on his maiden IPL century by just 6 runs. MI registered their first win of the season after a series of losses in close encounters.