IPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore destroyed SunRisers Hyderabad by eight wickets, thanks to a beaming ton by Virat Kohli. While RCB stays in the playoffs race, social media was overjoyed by Kohli's hundred.
It was a powerful one-sided performance by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against former champion SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 65 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. Virat Kohli slashed his sixth century and outshined Heinrich Klaasen's to get the job done for the visitors by eight wickets, while social media was ecstatic as the side firmly stayed in the playoffs race.
A magnificent CENTURY by Virat Kohli 🔥🔥
Take a bow, King Kohli!
His SIXTH century in the IPL. pic.twitter.com/gd39A6tp5d
After winning the coin toss, RCB opted to bowl, as SRH began on a difficult note, losing a couple for 28 by the fifth over of the PowerPlay. However, skipper Aiden Markram (18) and Klaasen (104) took effective charge of the hosts' innings, putting on a 76-run partnership before the former perished to spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who cleaned him up in the 13th.
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👑 CENTURY FOR THE KING! My oh my, Virat Kohli woke up and chose violence tonight.
❤️ King Kohli now has the joint-most centuries in the IPL, giving company to Chris Gayle.
📷 BCCI • pic.twitter.com/EuAOF6GLL7
It was followed by another effectual 74-run stand between Klaasen and Harry Brook (27*), with the former engaging in most of the hitting. While he brought up his maiden IPL ton in 50 balls, he was dismissed by pacer Harshal Patel in the 19th, at 178/4. Eventually, Hyderabad finished on a par total of 186/5.
The both centurions of the night - Virat Kohli and Heinrich Klaasen appreciated each other.
- First time in history both teams registered an individual century in an IPL match! pic.twitter.com/CHsCmUHOFK
Off-spinner Michael Bracewell grabbed a couple for Bangalore, while pacer Mohammed Siraj was considerably economical. The openers finished 90% of the job as the visitors began the chase. Kohli (100) and Faf du Plessis (71) engaged in a 172-run partnership before senior seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar sent the former packing in the 18th.
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Batting Control of Virat Kohli's IPL Centuries
90% against GL (2016)
89% against SRH (2023)*
86% against PBKS (2016)
83% against GL (2016)
79% against RPS (2016)
77% against KKR (2019) pic.twitter.com/FDwaPbb3Ho
While du Plessis slammed his 32nd IPL 50 during the stand, he was dismissed by pacer T Natarajan in the subsequent over five runs. Nevertheless, the Royal Challengers got the job done by eight wickets by the final over, with four deliveries to spare. Besides the wicket-takers for the SunRisers, spinner Mayank Dagar was effectively economical, whereas none of the teams used their Impact Players.
The Greatest there was
The Greatest there is
The Greatest there will be
6th IPL Century for Virat King Kohli 👑 pic.twitter.com/xPOq0wUuF1