‘Virat Kohli smashed five boundaries off Kagiso Rabada..’:Sanjay Bangar advises RCB legend to mix aggression with caution against GT

Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has thrown his support behind Virat Kohli ahead of the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT). Bangar believes that if Kohli produces a substantial innings, RCB’s chances of securing victory and a direct spot in the final will increase significantly. Meanwhile, Irfan Pathan highlighted Shubman Gill’s leadership growth and stressed the threat of Bhuvneshwar Kumar as a potential match-winner for Bengaluru against Gujarat. With a place in the IPL final at Narendra Modi Stadium on the line, both franchises will be eager to seize the advantage in this high-stakes encounter. ‘Virat Kohli needs to bat deep’ – Sanjay Bangar Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Game Plan’, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar discussed Virat Kohli’s role against GT’s opening bowlers. He said, “Virat Kohli will need to bat deep because Gujarat Titans have a quality bowling attack. In the Powerplay, RCB will have to handle three overs from Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. That will be a tough test. Looking at GT’s team composition, I expect Venkatesh Iyer to open the innings. I don’t see Phil Salt playing ahead of him. Since GT’s bowling is strong, RCB will need someone to hold one end and build partnerships. That makes Virat Kohli’s role crucial.” “If he plays a big innings, RCB’s chances of winning will go up significantly. The contest between Virat Kohli and GT’s pace attack of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj will be a key factor in this match. Who can forget that league game where Kohli smashed five boundaries off Rabada in a single over. Yes, he got out in the next over, but the intent he showed was a statement. RCB’s openers will need to balance aggression with caution because when GT haven’t taken wickets in the first six overs, their bowling has looked less threatening in the middle and death overs. So, if RCB can get through the Powerplay without losing more than one wicket, they will have a real chance,” Bangar concluded. ‘Shubman Gill has done a remarkable job’ When asked about Shubman Gill’s role and growth as a captain, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has shared his analysis on ‘Prince’ Shubman’s growth as a leader. He said, “Shubman Gill has done a remarkable job captaining Gujarat Titans, and his batting has also been excellent. He has grown as a batter and will relish the challenge of facing RCB. His off-side play against pace bowlers is top-class. He steps out, gets into position, and once he is set, he attacks with intent. Against spin, he uses the slog sweep to hit big shots.” “He entered this IPL season with a clear goal: improve his strike rate. He lost his place in the Indian team and wants to earn it back. That is definitely on his mind. Winning the IPL trophy for Gujarat is also a big target. I believe Shubman Gill will really enjoy the challenge of playing RCB in the first qualifier. He will also like this Dharamshala pitch, which should suit his style of play,” he said on JioStar’s ‘Game Plan’. Sanjay Bangar on GT’s threat to Bhuvneshwar’s experience pace Speaking on the threat Bhuvneshwar Kumar poses to GT’s top order, Sanjay Bangar said, “Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be a real challenge for GT’s top three. He swings the ball both ways. He can test Sai Sudharsan with outswing, and trouble Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill with inswing. Buttler is especially vulnerable to LBW. That’s why he often steps out to play around off stump.” “In the last game, Bhuvi even got him out by bowling him around the wicket. Every wicket Bhuvi has taken this season has been a work of art. You can see the thought behind each dismissal. I’ve really enjoyed watching him bowl. I hope he produces another great performance,” he concluded.