Chris Gayle is an asset for RCB, feels Virat Kohli

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                       Chris Gayle is an asset for RCB, feels Virat Kohli – Cricket News Update

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s middle-order batsman, Virat Kohli, has hailed his teammate, Chris Gayle, for smashing a match-winning innings in a Champions League Twenty20 match against Somerset last night.

It was a do-or-die situation for the Challengers, as they lost both of their opening matches in the ongoing tournament.

The pressure was immense, but Gayle rose to the occasion and lifted his side to an emphatic 51-run victory against the English outfit in a Group B game at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, on Monday, October 3, 2011.

While the West Indian opener hit a rapid 46-ball 86, Kohli added 33 runs to the total of 206, while sharing a fantastic 70-run-stand with the big fellow.

When asked about his superb partnership with the blistering Caribbean opener, Kohli said, “It's always been like that. We've had good partnerships for RCB. He's a terrific batsman. The way he controls the game… it's a matter of him staying in (at the wicket) for 10-12 overs and the game shifts in our favour. He is an impact batsman for us."

Despite a convincing win, the Royal Challengers are still languishing at the bottom of the Group standings, as it was their first triumph in the tournament.   

In a bid to keep their semi-final hopes alive, the side will have to win the next game with a handsome margin and establish a better Net Run Rate than other sides in the group.

Kohli further expressed satisfaction over his team’s phenomenal performance after two consecutive losses earlier in the championship.

He uttered that even though the players were under real pressure to do well, they gave their hundred percent and did not let the pressure affect their game.

“We batted well, bowled well and executed our plans perfectly. Especially coming from the back - after having been last on the [points] table - and winning by a huge margin… 51 runs is a big margin in T20 cricket. I'm really happy about it,” added the classy right-handed batsman who was the second highest run-getter in the IPL-4, with 557 runs after Gayle who earned the orange cap for his 608.