IPL 2021: Virat Kohli elated for Ravindra Jadeja despite RCB’s loss – Happy to see him perform with bat and ball

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli on Sunday said he is “very happy” to see Ravindra Jadeja performing well for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021, saying it’s always good to have India’s premier all-rounder high on confidence. Kohli’s comments came after Jadeja dominated RCB with both the bat and the ball to help CSK seal a 69-run win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Ravindra Jadeja came up with an all-round effort as Chennai Super Kings hammered Royal Challengers Bangalore in their final match of the season in Mumbai to top the IPL 2021 points table. Jadeja hit a 28-ball 62 not out, which included 5 sixes in the joint-most expensive over bowled in the history of the tournament. Jadeja picked up 37 runs from Harshal Patel’s final over as CSK went from 154 for 4 in the 19th over to finish with 191 on the board.

Jadeja made the most of spinner-friendly conditions in Mumbai on Sunday, picking up 3 wickets and conceding just 13 runs his 4-over spell. Jadeja’s victims included two of RCB’s main men — AB de Villiers (4) and Glenn Maxwell (22). Apart from the 3 wickets, Jadeja also ran Dan Christian out with a direct hit, rubbing salt into the wounds of the Australian all-rounder who had dropped the CSK star when he was batting on 0.

Virat Kohli was gracious in defeat as he pointed out that having Ravindra Jadeja in top form augurs well for Team India. Notably, Jadeja did not play for India against England at home after picking up a hand injury during the famous Sydney Test against Australia in January.

I have believed in Jadeja a lot: Kohli

“He is someone I have believed in a lot in the past. His ability has been there for everyone to see,” Kohli said after RCB’s loss to CSK.

“He has been out of the team (India) after that injury in Australia. I am very happy to see him perform with the bat, with the ball and on the field. You want your premier all-rounder to do well and be in a good space.

“I hope he keeps doing this more often because when he is confident and he is doing well, it opens up a lot of opportunities not just for Chennai but Indian cricket also,” he added.

I have believed in @imjadeja a lot. I am happy to see him perform with the bat, ball and in the field. When he plays well, it opens up so many options not just for #CSK but for #TeamIndia also: @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/GvmQR1Tgk3

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 25, 2021

‘One guy completely beat us’

Kohli backed Harshal Patel who eventually ended the match figures of 3/51. Harshal, who holds the Purple Cap with just 15 wickets in 5 matches, gave away 37 runs in the final over as Jadeja went berserk.

“He (Harshal) bowled well and we will continue to back him. His two wickets of the set batters took the momentum away from CSK before Jaddu took it away in the final over. We need to look at the loss in the right way,” Kohli said.

Meanwhile, Kohli also added that RCB will look at the loss with a positive lends, saying that it’s good for the former finalists to have a defeat like the one against CSK early in the season.

“You have to look at it the right way. I feel this is positive feedback for our side. A performance like this, it is good to get this out early on in the tournament. Our start was decent enough. One guy completely beat us,” he added.