IPL 2024: Virat Kohli creates history but fails to achieve target against PBKS

Crowds thronged M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday, March 25, to witness the clash between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 6 of IPL 2024. Among the fervent supporters, one man stood out Virat Kohli. In a display reminiscent of his prime, Virat Kohli showcased his masterful batting prowess, steering RCB towards victory with finesse. Kohli’s innings unfolded as a testament to his enduring skill and determination. Kohli’s valiant effort of 77 runs off 49 balls proved pivotal in RCB’s pursuit of victory, showcasing his enduring class and resilience.

Kohli’s Record-breaking Batting

Amidst the electrifying atmosphere, Kohli achieved a significant milestone in his T20 career by registering his 100th 50+ score across all competitions. With an exceptional record of 92 fifties and 8 centuries, Kohli’s contribution to RCB’s success has been unparalleled.

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Kohli is also only the third batter in history to score 50+ runs in T20 more in three-figure instances. Only David Warner (109) and Chris Gayle (110) are ahead of him at the moment. In T20 career, the RCB star has scored more than 12,000 runs and has a strike rate of more than 133. Kohli is one of the few players to play all of the IPL seasons so far, and he also boasts with most runs in the competition.

Kohli’s Fielding Record

Not content with rewriting batting records, Kohli also etched his name in the annals of fielding history. By surpassing Suresh Raina’s record for the most catches by an Indian player in T20 cricket, Kohli demonstrated his versatility and commitment on the field.

The overall record is held by former West Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard who has taken a staggering 362 catches so far. No other fielder has managed to touch the 300 catch so far. David Miller is second with 290 catches followed by Dwayne Bravo (271), Shoaib Malik (225), and Alex Hales (221) in the top five. In the overall list, Kohli is at the 15th spot.

India fielders with most catches in Men’s T20 cricket
173 – Virat Kohli
172 – Suresh Raina
167 – Rohit Sharma
146 – Manish Pandey
136 – Suryakumar Yadav

RCB vs PBKS Match Highlights

As the match unfolded, Kohli’s impact was palpable from the outset. Despite early setbacks, Kohli’s aggressive batting propelled RCB forward, instilling hope in the hearts of fans. However, the journey was not without its challenges, with PBKS bowlers posing formidable resistance.

Kohli smashed 35 in 21 balls after being dropped off the second ball of the innings by Jonny Bairstow and RCB were 50/2 at the end of the powerplay while chasing a target of 177.

While Kohli continued to bat aggressively and power RCB’s chase, he hardly received sustained support from the other end as Kagiso Rabada and Harpreet Brar did most of the damage for the Kings in the middle overs. Eventually though, Kohli himself perished after having scored 77 in 49 balls. RCB won the match 4 wickets.