In a spectacular display of skill and composure, batting maestro Virat Kohli notched his 100th half-century in T20 cricket, leading the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a commanding nine-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday.
England’s Phil Salt set the stage for RCB’s chase of 174 runs with a blistering 33-ball 65. Kohli then took control, finishing with an unbeaten 62, marking his third half-century of the season and the 66th of his T20 career. This achievement places him level with Australia’s David Warner, who tops the list with 108 half-centuries.
Kohli’s remarkable consistency is showcased in his 100 half-centuries across 401 matches, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam follows in third with 90. Salt’s explosive start included a four and a six off Rajasthan’s Jofra Archer in the opening over, setting a vigorous pace. He reached his fifty in just 28 balls and forged a crucial 92-run partnership with Kohli before falling to spinner Kumar Kartikeya.
Despite Salt’s dismissal, Kohli remained unfazed, forming an unbroken 83-run partnership with left-hander Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed a solid 40 runs, ensuring RCB crossed the finish line with 15 balls to spare. This victory marked RCB’s fourth win in six matches, propelling them into the top four of the ten-team table.
On the other hand, the inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals have faced a challenging start to their season, now suffering four losses in six matches. Rajasthan’s opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was the standout performer for his team, scoring 75 runs, helping them to a total of 173-4 after being invited to bat first. Jaiswal began cautiously on a sluggish pitch but found his rhythm, contributing to partnerships of 49 with Sanju Samson and 56 with Riyan Parag, who added 30 runs.
RCB’s victory not only highlights Kohli’s enduring prowess but also sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.
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