Former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper, Virat Kohli has come up with the best possible reply to the criticism by smashing back-to-back hundreds in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. After registering a hundred against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Kohli brought up a 60-ball ton against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on May 21.
It’s a must-win game for RCB as a win will take them to the playoffs. Virat Kohli also broke Chris Gayle’s record for most IPL hundreds with his seventh in the history of the tournament. He also became the only third batter to hit back-to-back hundreds in IPL after Shikhar Dhawan and Jos Buttler. With his second successive hundred in IPL 2023, Kohli also recorded 600-plus runs for a third time in the tournament having last achieved the feat in 2013 and 2016.
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The unbeaten century from Virat Kohli helped RCB to reach a total of 197 for the loss of five wickets. RCB got off to a flying start, with Kohli and Faf du Plessis stitching a crucial 67-run opening partnership before GT started to tighten the screws after the powerplay. GT bowlers controlled the middle overs, but Kohli continued to lead RCB from the front.
At the mid-innings break, Kohli said he is playing his ‘best T20 cricket again’. He said, “A very competitive score and a winnable score. It’s about the bowlers to execute their plans and have a crack at them. A lot of people feel my T20 cricket is declining, but I don’t feel like that at all. I feel I am playing my best again, enjoying myself, hitting gaps and big ones at the end. You have to rise to the occasion when the situation demands, and I take a lot of pride in doing, and I’ve been doing it a while now.”
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He further added, “I feel really good in my game right now. There’s enough in this pitch for our bowlers to make a dent. If we can cut down the boundaries and the twos, it’s a difficult chase. Ravi’s chat in the changing room was to stay in the present [when there’s rain around]. I wasn’t focused on the drizzle or the other game. Just focused on what I needed to do for my team. We’re in a great position to defend this.”
Here is the video of the knock from Virat Kohli:
Virat Kohli’s former RCB teammate and South African legend AB de Villiers took to social media to write: “Virat is there when we need him!”
Chris Gayle bows down to King Kohli after his 7th century.
– The King and Universe Boss! pic.twitter.com/fvlyqGjD9a
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 21, 2023
𝗨𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 🫡
Back to Back Hundreds for Virat Kohli in #TATAIPL 2023 👏🏻👏🏻
Take a bow 🙌 #RCBvGT | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/p1WVOiGhbO
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 21, 2023
When the lights are brightest, Pressure is highest, Crowds are the loudest, The best will arrive, The strongest will survive, The greatest will thrive
King Virat Kohli pic.twitter.com/2ov10dMwQv
— Kevin (@imkevin149) May 21, 2023
HISTORY – VIRAT KOHLI HAS NOW MOST HUNDREDS IN IPL HISTORY – 7* HUNDREDS.
THE GOAT OF WORLD CRICKET. pic.twitter.com/ah5trQPyqC
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) May 21, 2023
HISTORY – VIRAT KOHLI HAS SCORED MOST HUNDREDS IN IPL.
In a must win game, he became the God of RCB, what a player, stand up & salute the master. pic.twitter.com/cSDwP0FGwt
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 21, 2023
Back to back IPL centuries. Just a master of his surroundings right now. It is very reminiscent of 2016 Virat Kohli. Greatness personified.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) May 21, 2023
100 number 82 from the real king @imVkohli what a inning in must win game. true champion and inspiration for many people 👏 🙌.
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) May 21, 2023
🚨 Virat Kohli is coming for the cup. 👑
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 21, 2023
