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Jitesh, Rajat Fire Explosive Fifties; Virat's Cameo in RCB Warm-Up

Royal Challengers Bengaluru batters showcased excellent form in their first warm-up match ahead of their IPL title defence. Wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma and skipper Rajat Patidar delivered explosive fifties, while Virat Kohli contributed a brisk cameo. The high-scoring practice game saw both teams post totals above 230. Head coach Andy Flower praised the standout performances from both established players and youngsters with the ball.

Key Points: RCB Warm-Up: Jitesh, Rajat, Kohli Batting Form Ahead of IPL

  • Jitesh Sharma scores 37-ball 81
  • Rajat Patidar smashes 25-ball 74
  • Virat Kohli plays 12-ball 29 cameo
  • High-scoring match ends with 247/7 chase
  • Coach Andy Flower highlights standout batting and bowling
2 min read

Jitesh, skipper Rajat deliver explosive fifties; Virat plays short cameo in RCB's first warm-up match

Jitesh Sharma (81) and Rajat Patidar (74) star in RCB's high-scoring warm-up match. Virat Kohli plays a quick cameo. Coach Andy Flower praises performances.

"Some of the shots that Virat played today were amazing. Looking good, which is a great sign for us. - Krunal Pandya"

Bengaluru, March 23

Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma scored a 37-ball 81, skipper Rajat Patidar got a blazing 25-ball 74, while superstar batter Virat Kohli played a quick 12-ball 29 run cameo in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru first warm-up match ahead of their title defence starting from March 28 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Before kickstarting their IPL title defence against Men in Orange at home in Bengaluru, RCB batters looked in pretty good nick, even while playing brief cameos. Jitesh, Rajat, Devdutt Paddikal and Krunal Pandya were among the batters to have scored fifties.

Batting first, team led by Venkatesh Iyer posted 234/7, with Jitesh (81 in 37 balls), Tim David (36 in 14 balls), Iyer (30 in 16 balls) and Virat (29 in 12 balls) dominating the scorecard. In their 20 overs, the other team, led by Krunal, fired 247 runs, with Rajat (74 in 25 balls), Padikkal (63 in 33 balls) and Krunal (58 in 33 balls) delivering standout performances.

Reflecting on Virat's batting, Krunal said, "Some of the shots that Virat played today were amazing. Looking good, which is a great sign for us. So, fingers crossed."

Speaking after the match's conclusion, RCB's head coach Andy Flower praised Jitesh and Rajat for their standout performances and pointed out that youngsters like Abhinandan Singh, Rasikh Dar Salam and Vicky Ostwal did well with a ball in hand.

"Some of the highlights, I suppose, from the evening are watching guys like Jitesh who scored 80 or 35 balls or so. Rajat is there, hitting beautiful shots as we know that he can. Some of the youngsters are performing. Abhinandan was good with the ball, Rasikh was good with the ball. For instance, it was nice to see Vicky Ostwal and his skill with the left-arm spin. So that was a great night's work for everyone in the squad and rest tomorrow," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see Virat getting some quick runs, but honestly, the real story is Rajat Patidar. 74 off 25 balls is insane strike rate! He's been our silent match-winner. Hope he carries this form into the main tournament.
R
Rohit P
Batting looks sorted as always with RCB, but conceding 247 runs in a warm-up? The bowling needs serious work. Flower sir mentioned the youngsters did well, but the scorecard suggests otherwise. Need to tighten up before facing SRH.
S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Bangalore, the energy is already building! A high-scoring practice match is great entertainment and shows the team's intent. Can't wait for the 28th at Chinnaswamy!
K
Karthik V
Jitesh Sharma is such an underrated finisher. 81 off 37 is top-class. He could be the solution to our death overs puzzle. Also, good to see Padikkal among runs, he's a talented lad.
M
Michael C
Respectfully, while the batting fireworks are impressive, a warm-up match where both teams score 230+ indicates a very flat pitch or poor bowling. The real test will be on varied pitches. Hope the management is looking at the bowling figures closely.

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