NEW DELHI: Former India ODI captain Ajay Jadeja felt that there weren't many demons on the 22-yard strip, despite Virat Kohli's assessment that the Jaipur track was two-paced and made strokeplay challenging.
However, RCB could only muster 183/3 in 20 overs, a total that was eclipsed by Rajasthan Royals with five balls remaining thanks to Jos Buttler's 58-ball ton. Kohli struck an undefeated 113 off 72 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Astute cricket observer Jadeja sensed a possible contradiction between Kohli's observations and the pitch's overall performance during the entire game.
"He (Kohli) started out so well. He hit a couple of boundaries in the first few overs, and you knew you were watching something special tonight. The only surprising thing was him speaking about how the deliveries were not carrying through on this pitch, but the way he batted, we didn't see any shortcomings in the pitch," Jadeja, a 'Jio Cinema' IPL expert said.
After scoring his eighth IPL hundred, Kohli had said the pitch was not a flat one.
"The wicket looks quite different from the outside. It feels like it's flat, but the ball is holding up in the pitch, that's when you realise the pace changes," Kohli told the official broadcaster on Saturday evening.
It is Kohli's shot-making that convinced Jadeja to believe there were no shortcomings in the surface.
"In terms of his shot-making, no corner of the ground was left where he didn't smash the ball. What he said made us think something might be wrong with the pitch, but the way he played, there wasn't a single shortcoming that could be seen."
Shane Watson, another specialist on Jio Cinema, believes that Sanju Samson's breakthrough season may eventually arrive in the 17th IPL season.
"He showed intent from ball one in his own cool, calm, collected way. A 130 strike rate in the first 10 balls means you're not just trying to get ones. You're waiting for a loose ball and he did put it away straight away and because of the skill he's got, he's playing the ball on its merit," Watson said.
"If a bowler bowls a slightly loose ball, because of all the shot options that Sanju Samson has got, he scores very freely. You can see the calmness in him, and he continues to do that game after game, there's no reason he can't have a very successful tournament.
"I'm actually predicting he'll have a long and successful IPL with the bat this year," the former CSK and Royals star said.
(With PTI inputs)
1/9:Rajasthan Royals edge Royal Challengers Bengaluru
<p>Rajasthan Royals edge Royal Challengers Bengaluru</p>AFP
2/9:Kohli's Valiant Effort
<p>Virat Kohli, 35, hit the first hundred of the 17th edition of the IPL as he reached the three-figure mark with a single off Nandre Burger and raised his bat to a cheering crowd.</p>PTI
3/9:Buttler's Explosive Batting
<p>Jos Buttler, who now has six tons in the IPL along with Chris Gayle, started slowly before he hammered Mayank Dagar for three fours and a six in a 20-run sixth over to set up the chase.</p>ANI
4/9:RR on Unbeaten Streak
<p>But his effort was not enough as inaugural champions Rajasthan remained unbeaten in the season with four wins as they took top spot in the 10-team table.</p>AFP
5/9:Kohli's Century Falls Short
<p>Kohli reached his eighth IPL ton -- the most by any batsman -- in 67 balls and finished on an unbeaten 113 to take Bengaluru to 183-3.</p>AFP
6/9:Buttler on Winning Hit
<p>"Had a little bit of luck, did not time it well, just got over the rope, delighted with the win," Buttler said of his winning hit over the deep mid-wicket fence.</p>AFP
7/9:Buttler's Rapid Ton
<p>England's Buttler reached his ton, from 58 balls, with a six in his 100th IPL match when Rajasthan needed one for victory in their chase of 184, with five balls to spare in Jaipur.</p>AP
8/9:Buttler-Samson Partnership
<p>Buttler, who struck form after he scored 35 across the previous three matches, put on 148 runs for the second wicket with skipper Sanju Samson, who made 69.</p>AP
