Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered their first win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and moved to the sixth position in the points table. Virat Kohli was the standout performer for RCB with a brilliant 77 while Dinesh Karthik rounded it off in style as the team bounced back from their loss to Chennai Super Kings in the opener. Rajasthan Royals are currently at the top of the table thanks to the best Net Run Rate (NRR), followed by CSK, Gujarat Titans, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings.
Virat Kohli produced a quality half-century on a slightly gummy pitch that took the holiday crowd on a joyride and Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings.
The 177 point goal wasn’t terribly difficult, but had to be carefully scaled back due to the nature of the card game.
Kohli (77, 49b, 11×4, 2×6) executed it almost perfectly as RCB made 178 for six with four balls to spare to register their first win of this IPL.
The Royal Challengers needed 47 off 24 balls from then on. Dinesh Karthik (28 not out off 10 balls) and ‘Impact Player’ Mahipal Lomror (17 not out, 8 balls) carried them down the rope with some sensible cricket. Karthik team’s designated finisher showed his ability to seamlessly switch from mic to willow as he bowled over Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh with minimal effort to finish it off in style.
Kohli’s innings was not a flawless effort as he was reprieved on the very first ball at nil and then when he was on 33, and both times pacer Sam Curran was the aggrieved party.
But when Kohli hits such a lofty area, they are temporary distractions – for him and for the fans.
He showed that in no small measure, rattling Curran with three more fours after that first drop as 16 runs flowed in the opening chase.
There were also his money shots: covers, swats, lofts over extra cover as Kohli dismantled the King’s attack all on his own.
But one shot stood out from the rest for its sheer timing and execution. Rabada, who was otherwise excellent for a figure of 2/23, bowled one slightly short, and Kohli danced down to magnificently flay the offering over the covers for a four.
Leg-spinner Rahul Chahar’s inside-out maximum over also has the touch of Kohli’s brilliance.
Those shorts also showed Kohli’s class on an insipid card game where other RCB batters like Cameron Green and Glenn Maxwell struggled to make a move against Rabada and the very impressive spinner Harpreet Brar (2/13).
It was reflected in the fact that the highest partnership in RCB innings was a 43-run association between Kohli and Rajat Patidar (18, 18b) for the third wicket.
But Kohli’s only odyssey ended when his strike to Harshal Patel’s slower ball at off-stump failed to generate enough power and distance to evade Brar at deep third man.
(With PTI inputs)
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