Virat Kohli scored a quality half-century on a slightly gummy pitch to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in an IPL match on Monday. The 177-run target wasn’t a massively tough one, but needed a meticulous scaling down because of the deck’s nature. Kohli (77, 49b, 11×4, 2×6) led RCB to a near-perfect 178 for six with four balls to spare, earning their first IPL win.
The Royal Challengers needed 47 from 24 balls from that point Dinesh Karthik (28 not out off 10 balls) and ‘Impact Player’ Mahipal Lomror (17 not out, 8 balls)carried them past the rope with some sensible cricket. Karthik team’s designated finisher demonstrated his ability to seamlessly transition from microphone to willow as he walloped Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh with minimal fuss to finish in style.
Kohli’s innings was not without flaws, as he was given reprieves on the first ball at zero and again when he was on 33, with pacer Sam Curran being the aggrieved party in both cases.
However, when Kohli bats at such a high level, these are only temporary distractions for both him and the audience.
He demonstrated this in no small measure, clanking Curran for three more fours after the first drop, as 16 runs cascaded in the chase’s first over.
Kohli’s money shots included cover drives, swat-flicks, and lofts over extra cover as he dismantled the Kings’ attack on his own.
However, one shot stood out for its impeccable timing and execution. Rabada, who was otherwise excellent for a 2/23 figure, pitched one slightly short, and Kohli danced down to magnificently flay the ball over the covers for a four.
Kohli’s genius is also evident in Rahul Chahar’s inside-out maximum over.
Kohli’s shorts also demonstrated his class on a tacky deck, where other RCB batters like Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell struggled to get a move on against Rabada and the highly impressive spinner Harpreet Brar (2/13).
It was reflected in the fact that Kohli and Rajat Patidar (18, 18b) shared the highest partnership in an RCB innings, scoring 43 runs for the third wicket.
Kohli’s lone Odyssey came to an end when his slash off Harshal Patel’s slower ball on off-stump lacked the power and distance to clear Brar at deep third man.
Previously, captain Shikhar Dhawan’s pragmatism served as the foundation for the Punjab Kings’ 176-for-6 record.
Dhawan (45, 37 balls), Jitesh Sharma (27, 20 balls), and Prabhsimran Singh (25, 17 balls) were the Kings’ main contributors after RCB decided to bowl first.
For the hosts, Mohammed Siraj and Maxwell each took two wickets.
The Kings got off to a shaky start as Jonny Bairstow left early, and his appearances on these shores, which date back to last year’s World Cup, have now become more barren than an Indian summer.
But, from 17 for one, the visitors found some runs through Dhawan and Prabhsimran, who took on the pitch and the RCB bowlers with ease, scoring 55 runs off 38 balls.
Dhawan was not particularly smooth during his stay, but he showed enough tenacity to capitalize on loose deliveries, such as a length ball on the off-stump from left-arm spinner Mayank Dagar, which he lifted over long-on for a six.
In fact, the RCB bowlers, particularly the impressive left-arm seamer Yash Dayal (1/23), did admirably to tie him down with deliveries that darted into him from just short of good length.
Prabhsimran also occasionally displayed his aggressive instincts, the most telling example being his flicked six off Green, which sailed 90 meters over midwicket for a maximum.
But just as the alliance was taking shape, Prabhsimran attempted to pull Maxwell, but his feeble top edge was caught by stumper Anuj Rawat.
However, Punjab suffered a more severe blow when Dhawan was removed.
The left-hander’s attempt to lift Maxwell out of the ground ended in Kohli’s hands at long-on, as the Kings fell to 98 for four in 12.1 overs.
The Kings needed more runs on the board to pose a meaningful challenge to the home team.
They found them in Jitesh, who hammered Dagar for two consecutive sixes, and Curran, who added 52 runs for the fifth wicket off 34 balls.