In a captivating showdown against KKR, Virat Kohli showcased his batting prowess with a remarkable unbeaten innings of 83 runs off 59 balls. Despite Kohli’s stellar display, RCB ultimately succumbed to defeat as KKR chased down their target of 183 with ease.
Kohli’s innings was marked by exquisite shot selection, including four fours and four sixes, captivating the audience from the outset. The Bengaluru crowd erupted in jubilation when Kohli smashed Mitchell Starc for a six in the third over, sending the stadium into a frenzy with their deafening cheers.
However, Kohli lacked significant support from his teammates, with Faf du Plessis departing early after scoring just 8 runs. Although partnerships were formed with Cameron Green (33), Glenn Maxwell, and others, RCB’s total of 182/6 proved insufficient in the face of KKR’s formidable batting lineup.
KKR’s successful chase was propelled by contributions from Phil Salt (30), Sunil Narine (47), Venkatesh Iyer (50), and Shreyas Iyer (39*), leading them to victory with 186/3 in just 16.5 overs.
Despite the loss, Kohli’s outstanding performance earned him the top spot in the IPL 2024 Orange Cap race, amassing 181 runs thus far. He leads ahead of SRH’s Heinrich Klaasen (143), with Riyan Parag (127) and Sanju Samson (97) following closely behind. Abhishek Sharma (95) of SRH secures the fifth position.
Reflecting on the match, RCB’s skipper Du Plessis acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch, noting its unpredictable nature and lack of pace, which impacted their batting performance in the first innings.
