Virat Kohli’s scintillating knock of 77 propelled Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Punjab Kings at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. This triumph marked RCB’s first win in the ongoing IPL 2024 season, following their defeat in the opener against Chennai Super Kings.
Kohli, the former Indian captain, played a pivotal role in RCB’s successful chase. His 49-ball innings was studded with 11 boundaries and two towering sixes. He single-handedly led the charge, anchoring the chase before Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror sealed the deal with an unbeaten 48-run partnership. RCB reached the target of 178 with four balls to spare.
Kohli’s exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Match award and the Orange Cap for being the leading run-scorer in the tournament so far. In the post-match presentation, he expressed his gratitude for the recognition but emphasized the importance of team success over individual achievements.
“It’s just two games, so let’s not get overexcited,” Kohli said. “I understand the significance of the Orange Cap, but at the end of the day, it’s the memories that matter. As Rahul Dravid always says, it’s the friendships, love, and support that we’ll cherish.”
Kohli acknowledged the challenges he faced during the chase, particularly after RCB lost quick wickets. He stressed the need to adapt to the situation and expressed disappointment at not finishing the match himself.
“In T20 cricket, I’m opening the batting and trying to give a blazing start,” Kohli explained. “But when wickets start falling, you have to play according to the situation. The wicket wasn’t as flat as usual, so I couldn’t hit the ball across the line. I’m disappointed not to have finished it off, but it’s not a bad start considering we lost early wickets.”
Despite the setback, Kohli remains confident in his abilities in the T20 format. “I know my name is often used to promote T20 cricket worldwide, but I still believe I have the skills to excel in this format,” he asserted.
