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Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Virat Kohli has become the third batter to score back-to-back centuries in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The right-hander stepped up in a must-win game for RCB in the race to the playoffs.
Kohli smashed an unbeaten 101 off 61 balls at a strike rate of 165.67, including 13 boundaries and a six during his power-packed knock. The senior batter stayed till the end as Bangalore posted 197/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
The 34-year-old has now joined Shikhar Dhawan (Punjab Kings) and Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals) on the elite list of batters to hit consecutive tons in the T20 tournament.
With his ton, Virat Kohli also eclipsed legendary Chris Gayle’s record of most centuries (six) in IPL.
For the uninitiated, the right-handed batter has smashed all his seven hundred as an opener. He has hit a couple of tons against now-defunct Gujarat Lions and one each against now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans, respectively.
The former RCB captain had previously smashed 100 off 63 balls in his last game against SRH, which RCB won by eight wickets.
Kohli has, so far, amassed 639 runs in 14 games, including two hundred and six half-centuries in IPL 2023. He will now hope that RCB qualifies for the playoffs in their bid to win the maiden IPL trophy.
"This is how I play T20 cricket" - Virat Kohli trolls critics with epic statement
Following his exploits with the bat, Virat Kohli came up with a befitting reply to trollers after his entertaining knock against GT.
Speaking during the mid-match show, Kohli said:
“Lot of people think that my T20 cricket is declining. I don't feel like that at all. I think I am playing my best T20 cricket again. I'm just enjoying myself. This is how I play T20 cricket. I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and then the big ones towards the end if the situation allows me to.
He added:
"You have to read situations and rise up to the occasion when the situation demands. I feel really good with my game at the moment and how I'm batting.”
Virat Kohli’s ton helps RCB set 198-run target against GT
A clinical batting performance from Virat Kohli helped RCB post a mammoth 198-run target for GT on Sunday. Besides Kohli, skipper Faf du Plessis, Michael Bracewell and Anuj Rawat chipped in with 28 (19), 26 (16) and 23*(15), respectively.
For GT, Noor Ahmed emerged as the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 2/39. Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal and Mohammed Shami picked up one wicket apiece.
Follow RCB vs GT live score updates here.
