Virat Kohli’s brilliant unbeaten knock of 105 led Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, propelling them to the top of the IPL standings. Kohli, who had faced two consecutive ducks, showcased his form with a composed 60-ball innings to chase down 193 in Raipur.
The 37-year-old notched up his ninth IPL century, smashing 11 boundaries and three maximums. This win marked Bengaluru’s eighth triumph in 12 matches this season, allowing them to surpass Gujarat Titans on net run-rate and edge closer to securing a playoff berth.
On the other hand, Kolkata suffered their sixth defeat in 11 matches, denting their playoff aspirations. With only the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, the final showdown is set to take place in Ahmedabad on May 31.
Kohli initiated his innings with a single in the first over, visibly relieved after his recent struggles. Despite losing his opening partner early, he combined for a crucial 92-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal, who contributed 39 runs. Kohli overcame a dropped chance on 21 to reach his fifty in 32 deliveries.
Although Bengaluru lost wickets, including a spectacular catch by Manish Pandey, Kohli’s composed approach guided them to victory as he notched his first century of the season. Jitesh Sharma sealed the win with the winning runs.
In the first innings, Kolkata posted 192-4 thanks to Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s quickfire 71 off 46 balls. Raghuvanshi formed strong partnerships with Cameron Green (32) and Rinku Singh, who finished with a flourish scoring an unbeaten 49 off 29 deliveries. Pace bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Rasikh Salam each claimed a wicket in Bengaluru’s successful run chase.
