We’re trying to be positive, but it’s not coming together for us: Virat

Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore slumped to their fifth consecutive loss in the IPL as they were all out for 119 in a 139-run chase to Kings XI Punjab on Friday. This was a fresh humiliation to a side that, in an earlier match, was dismissed by Kolkata Knight Riders for 49 – the lowest score in IPL history.

For the IPL runners-up, this season has been tragic as they are already out of the playoff race. Kohli said he has no explanation for the poor performances.

“It’s really disheartening. I don’t know what to say about games like these any more. It’s happening many a times for our liking and something we have not been able to change,” Kohli said after his team’s loss to KXIP.

“Anything that we are trying is just not working. It’s strange. People are trying to be positive, but are just not finding a way to make that big score.”

Kohli added that in such a situation motivation was hard to come by. “This season has been totally against what we wanted to do. It is very difficult to find motivation when you are playing like this,” the RCB captain said.

“The guys prepared really well this season. They were good with the ball tonight (vs KXIP), but with the bat we let ourselves down. I have never experienced so many batting collapses in a season. It really hurts.”

RCB have now lost nine games out of 12 and are at the bottom of the table with five points. “It’s disheartening at the moment, we can’t really pinpoint at anything. We are trying to be as positive as we can. But it’s just not coming together for us,” he said.

“Guys are doing what they need to do for a game. But what’s important is what you do on the field.” Regarding KXIP’s Sandeep Sharma, who became the first bowler to dismiss Kohli, AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, in a single match, the RCB skipper said: “We did not plan anything specifically for a particular bowler. He bowled well, hit the right areas.”