In a recent IPL match against Rajasthan Royals, Virat Kohli’s century was achieved in 67 balls, marking it as the joint-slowest IPL ton in history. Despite this, Kohli reached several milestones, securing his eighth IPL century for Royal Challengers Bangalore, against Rajasthan Royals on Friday. His unbeaten 113 runs also stand as his joint-highest individual score in the league. Additionally, Kohli became the first player to surpass the 7500-run mark in IPL during this innings. However, alongside these achievements, Kohli faced a less desirable record.
His century, accomplished in 67 balls, matched the slowest IPL ton, previously set by Manish Pandey, who also took 67 balls for RCB against Deccan Chargers in Centurion in 2009.
Following his century, Kohli expressed his perspective on facing opposition bowlers. He stated that while they might expect him to aggressively pursue every ball, he prefers adapting his approach according to match conditions, as demonstrated in his unbeaten century against Rajasthan Royals.
Kohli’s innings comprised 12 fours and four sixes, totaling his eighth IPL hundred. Despite his stellar performance, RCB only managed to score 183 for 3, as none of the batters, including Kohli, managed to accelerate the run rate on a challenging pitch where Rajasthan Royals’ spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin posed significant threats.
In a post-match interview, Kohli remarked on the deceptive nature of the pitch, highlighting its tendency to hold up the ball. He defended his strategy of not immediately attacking the bowlers, emphasizing the importance of one batsman, either himself or Faf du Plessis, batting through to the end. Kohli stressed that he approached the innings without preconceived notions, recognizing the need to maintain a balance between aggression and caution.
Acknowledging the challenges posed by Chahal and Ashwin, Kohli described the difficulty of facing Ashwin’s carrom ball and adjusted his strategy accordingly, targeting shots straight down the ground rather than attempting slogs towards mid-wicket.
In conclusion, Kohli’s performance not only showcased his batting prowess but also highlighted the significance of adaptability and strategic acumen in navigating challenging match conditions.