Virat Kohli achieves a special IPL feat: joins an Elite list of batters with his return as RCB captain

By Karan Rawat Apr 20, 2023, 19:21 IST
Virat Kohli achieves a special IPL feat: joins an Elite list of batters with his return as RCB captain

The 27th game of the 16th edition took place between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. Both teams were without their regular captain. Sam Curran led the PBKS in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, while Virat Kohli captained the RCB with Faf du Plessis not fit enough to field.

Curran won the toss and decided to bowl first. As usual, both RCB openers provided yet another brilliant start for the team. Virat and Du Plessis (impact sub) added 137 runs for the first wicket in 16.1 overs and scored their respective half-centuries.

Virat was the first batter to be dismissed, as he scored 59 off 47 balls, including five fours and one six. With the century partnership for the first wicket, both RCB openers became the first pair in the IPL 2023 to complete 400 runs as a pair.

Du Plessis played another match-winning inning. He made 84 off 56, with five fours and five sixes, and has now widened the gap between him and other candidates for the "Orange Cap." He has scored a total of 343 runs in six innings at an average and strike rate of 68.60 and 166.50, including four half-centuries.

Virat has also scored 279 runs in six innings at 55.80 with a strike rate of 142.34 and four half-centuries. In his inning, the former RCB captain completed 600 IPL fours. He had hit 598 boundaries and 228 sixes prior to this inning. Now, he has hit 603 fours and 229 sixes in 221 innings.

He became only the second batter to hit 600 or more boundaries in the IPL. Virat is only behind Shikhar Dhawan, who has hit 730 boundaries in his IPL career, along with 144 sixes. Batting first, RCB made 174/4 and dismissed PBKS for 150 runs to win the game by 24 runs. With this win, RCB moved into fifth place with three wins.

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