Virat Kohli’s lean patch continued even after the RCB team management promoted him up the order, as the other opener alongside captain Faf du Plessis, versus Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday.

Kohli scored only nine, going into the game after back-to-back first-ball dismissals. But skipper Du Plessis is right behind the former captain.

“That (sending Kohli to open) is what we discussed after the last game (against Sunrisers Hyderabad) to try and get the best out of him. But great players go through phases like this,” Du Plessis said at the post-match presentation.

“We wanted him to get in straightaway so that he doesn’t sit on the sidelines and think about the game. He’s a great player and we still back him to turn it around and hopefully, it’s around the

corner. It’s a game of confidence, after all,” Du Plessis emphasised.