Virat Kohli, the talismanic batter of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), once again showcased his brilliance on the cricket field in their emphatic victory over Punjab Kings at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
Kohli, batting at his customary opening position, unleashed a scintillating innings, amassing 92 runs off just 47 deliveries. His knock was studded with six towering sixes and seven boundaries, propelling RCB to a formidable total of 241 for 7. Rajat Patidar (55 off 23 balls) and Cameron Green (46 off 27 balls) provided valuable contributions, maintaining the momentum in the middle and late overs.
Kohli’s exceptional batting performance earned him the Orange Cap, becoming only the second batsman after KL Rahul to score 600-plus runs in four IPL seasons. He now boasts an impressive tally of 634 runs in 12 innings.
On the bowling front, Harshal Patel emerged as the standout performer for RCB, claiming three wickets for 38 runs. His impressive spell earned him the Purple Cap, with his wicket tally now standing at 20 in 12 innings.
Punjab’s chase faltered in the 17th over, with the team dismissed for 181. Despite Rilee Rossouw’s valiant knock of 61 off 27 balls, the Kings were unable to match RCB’s imposing total.
Kohli’s brilliance extended beyond his batting, as he produced a stunning moment of fielding brilliance. In the 14th over, after a collision between Shashank Singh and RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, Kohli ran in from deep mid-wicket and executed a direct hit to run out Singh, who had scored a quickfire 37 off 19 balls.
The third umpire confirmed Singh’s dismissal, with replays showing his bat short of the popping crease. Kohli’s exceptional fielding effort highlighted his all-around abilities and contributed to RCB’s fourth consecutive victory.
With this win, RCB moved to 10 points, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Kohli’s match-winning performance once again underlined his status as one of the greatest players in the history of the Indian Premier League.
