Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the virtual Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 knockout at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday as the one last spot for the playoffs is up for grabs.
Talking ahead of the anticipated encounter, Kohli opened up on facing MS Dhoni, who led the franchise to five IPL trophies, saying that this could be the last time the two will be up against one another.
"Mahi bhai and I will be playing again, maybe for the last time, who knows. It'll be a great moment for fans, we had a great partnership for India over the years. We all know how many matches he's finished and won the match for the team," Kohli said on Jio Cinema's Inside Out show.
He also talked about people who question Dhoni’s decisions during the match saying he knows what he is doing as even if he takes a match to the last over, he will finish it.
“People used to say the same about Mahi bhai (Mahendra Singh Dhoni). 'Why is he taking the game to 20th over or 50th over?' But how many matches did he finish for India! He's probably the only person who knows what he's doing! And he's finishing the game from there. For me, that's muscle memory.
“He knows if he takes the match till the last over, he'll win the game. My mindset was different. I used to think let's finish the game in the 49th over (in ODIs) or 19th over (in T20s). If he was batting with me at the end, then the thinking was different. He will take the game into the last over where the opposition team is shivering in fear," Kohli further added.
Remember, CSK is at number four in the IPL points table with 14 points while RCB is sixth with 12. Fifth-placed Delhi Capitals have played all of their matches and they are out of the race for the playoffs.
While a win would just be enough for CSK, RCB, if they bat second, would have to chase in 18.1 overs or if they bat first, they would need to beat CSK by 18 runs.