Virat Kohli started the 2024 IPL with a fluent 77 against the Punjab Kings. This competition is crucial for Kohli since the T20 World Cup is quickly approaching and he wants to solidify his spot in the Indian T20 team. Here we look at his best five IPL innings.
Kohli has played in only two Twenty20 Internationals since India's semi-final loss in the 2022 T20 World Cup, both against Afghanistan in January of this year. While his ability to score runs is unquestionable, as proven by his record being the tournament's all-time best run-scorer (1141 runs at an average of 81.5), his strike rate of 131.3 has been criticised. According to reports, he has been encouraged to take a more aggressive approach to secure his place in the team.
Kohli seems determined to silence his opponents before taking on Punjab. Opening in a chase of 177, he gained an early boost when Jonny Bairstow lost a thick outside edge in the slips off Sam Curran's opening over. After that, Kohli scored 33 runs in his first 15 deliveries, which was his greatest score in the first 15 balls in a T20 innings. But with wickets falling on the other end, keeping his wicket was more important than being aggressive. He finished with a 49-ball 77, including 11 fours and two sixes, and played an important part in RCB's four-wicket win.
Virat Kohli created history as the first Indian and only the third player worldwide, after Chris Gayle and David Warner, to score a fifty in his remarkable 100th T20 innings. Much like the game of cricket, Kohli’s unpredictability to raise his game at the right time is what has led him to glory in his career. In the world of online gaming, most players are searching for similar glory and end up looking for the best betting promo codes in India which helps them gain that initial edge over others. Following Kohli's great start to the season, let us look at his best five IPL innings:
In 2016, during a match against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Kohli had a split webbing injury which required nine stitches on his left hand. He came back to lead RCB against Punjab 48 hours after this setback. Because of the weather, the game was cut short, with 15 overs for each team. Challenged by all odds, Kohli produced a spectacular batting performance, scoring a century in only 47 balls, his fourth century of the season and the quickest in the league. As soon as he reached his landmark, he gestured toward the stitches. RCB scored a stunning 211-3 overall.
Playing at the top of his game, Kohli easily defeated Rising Pune Supergiants' 192-run goal. He hit four sixes and a four in a stunning attack against RP Singh and Adam Zampa with 39 needed from the final three overs. After this attack, RCB just needed four runs in the last over. With three balls remaining, Kohli led RCB to a seven-wicket victory while staying unbeaten.
In his first IPL captaincy, Virat Kohli showcased his batting ability against the Delhi Daredevils. RCB was at 106-3 after 16 overs, with Kohli batting at 47 off 43 deliveries. Before getting run out on the final ball of the innings, Kohli used a remarkable performance of acceleration to fuel his team's innings with 99 runs off 58 balls, helping RCB reach 183 in their innings. Notably, Kohli's strong attack in the 18th and 20th overs against Umesh Yadav resulted in 24 and 23 runs, respectively.
Adding to the list is another outstanding inning from Kohli's incredible 2016 season, in which he scored a career-high 973 runs. Partnering with AB de Villiers, Kohli capitalised on the misery of the opposition to establish a strong partnership with 229 runs, the greatest partnership in T20 cricket at the moment. Kohli was a supporting player for most of the partnership, but De Villiers stole the show with his unbeaten 129 off 52 balls. However, Kohli destroyed the opposition attack in the final three overs, scoring 57 runs off 14 deliveries to record his third century of the season.
This brilliant performance boosted RCB to a dominating total of 248 runs. Since RCB would have been out of the running if they had lost, the outcome was crucial. They not only maintained their playoff position but also achieved the best net run rate of the season with the important 144-run win.
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