IPL 2023: Virat Kohli captains RCB as Faf du Plessis features as impact player against Punjab Kings

The Royal Challengers Bangalore fans were left surprised as Virat Kohli walked out for the toss against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2023 game on Thursday. The former RCB skipper, who’d given up the captaincy role after the 2021 season, stepped in for Faf du Plessis who’d picked up an injury in their last game.
“Faf potentially can’t be fielding today, so he’ll be playing as a impact player, switching with Vyshak,” Kohli said at the toss.
He further added, “We got to do what we wanted, we would have batted first, the pitch could get slow, some scruff marks will help the bowlers going deep into the game. Taking one game at a time, focussing on our own game, make the most of crunch situations, we haven’t done that so far in the tournament.”
Having been put in to bat first the Punjab Kings in Mohali, Kohli (59 off 47) and Faf du Plessis (84 off 56) added 137 runs for the first wicket stand, the fifth highest opening wicket partnership in RCB hory.

The men in red and black however, were only able to post 174 runs in their 20 overs quota.
Defending the total, Mohammed Siraj struck in the first over as he trapped Atharva Taide plumb. Wanindu Hasaranga would also strike in his first over to bag a second wicket for RCB in the powerplay as he cleaned up Matthew Short with a googly.