Virat Kohli (Photo Source: Twitter/IPL-BCCI)
Courtesy of a splendid century by flamboyant Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter, Virat Kohli, the side attained a competitive total of 197 runs in their 20 overs against Gujarat Titans (GT). In doing so, the swashbuckling right-hander recorded the most centuries in the history of the top-tier league with seven to his name, surpassing Chris Gayle’s record (six).
Notably, the two sides squared off at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, May 21, in the final group stage match of the IPL 2023. Upon winning the toss, Titans’ skipper Hardik Pandya put the home team to bat first.
What followed was a swift start by the opening pair of Virat Kohli and skipper, Faf du Plessis, as they took the powerplay to their advantage to get the big runs. The pair added 62 runs in the first six overs and remained steady in the innings.
It is worth mentioning that Kohli and Faf raised 939 runs between them in the ongoing season, the joint-most by any pair in the history of the IPL. Notably, Kohli and AB de Villiers recorded 939 runs between them during the 2016 season of the top-tier league.
However, skipper Faf headed back to the pavilion for a score of 28 off 19 balls as Gujarat followed it with the dismissals of Glenn Maxwell and Mahipal Lomror, reducing RCB to 85/3 in under 11 overs.
Kohli rose to the occasion and took the onus to get the vital runs and notched up a scintillating ton in 60 balls which included 13 fours and one six. In doing so, RCB concluded with a first-innings score of 197 runs in their stipulated 20 overs of the contest.
Kohli cracked 13 boundaries and one maximum in his phenomenal unbeaten knock of 101 off 61 balls. Impressively, he also registered back-to-back centuries, as he got a ton in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), scoring 100 off 63 balls. RCB will aim to push through and obtain the crucial two points in order to cement their spot in the playoffs of the league.