HYDERABAD: Virat Kohli finally rediscovered his form and touch. The aggressive batsman hit 41-ball 67 to lift Royal Challengers Bangalore to a challenging 160 for six in 20 overs against Sunrisers at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Monday.
RCB began slowly, scoring 48 runs in the first ten overs before accumulating 112 runs in the next ten, thanks to Kohli’s enterprising knock. He thus posted his first half-century of the season.
His previous best was 49 not out in the first match against Delhi Daredevils before getting into a slump. But today, it was a determined and different Kohli.
He took ten deliveries before slamming his first of his four boundaries to the cover fence. His shot selection was superb. The energetic Kohli reserved his best for Karn Sharma’s third over. He hit the bowler over sight-screen and the second six over cover fence. He cut the leg spinner in the same over. The leg-spinner leaked 19 runs in that over.
RCB’s best phase came when the in-form AB de Villiers and Kohli were involved in 31-ball 61 runs partnership. De Villiers entertained the over 28,000 crowd with a 17-ball 29 before he was castled by Bhuvaneshwar Kumar.
The two took 19 overs in Darren Sammy’s only over. Kohli completed his half-century in 34 balls.
He finally fell in the 18 over as he was caught nicely by Dale Steyn at long-off off Irfan Pathan. Left-hander Yuvraj Singh looked a bit out of sorts. He made a 25-ball 21, hitting two fours and one six. The left-hander gave Rasool his first wicket as he was caught in the deep. Yuvraj and Kohli's stand yielded 57 off 43 balls.
Sunrisers, who are more or less playing for pride, made two changes. The out-of-form payers, KL Rahul and leg spinner
The out of form players, KL Rahul and leg spinner Amit Mishra made way for Y Venugopal Rao and off-spinner Pervez Rasool, who is playing his first match for Sunrisers.
Parthiv Patel who played for Sunrisers last season, struck the first four by cover-driving Bhuvneshwar Kumar. But the bowler had the revenge by having trapped Patel in front for four.
Sunrisers struck in the first over itself. It was wicket number 19 for Kumar this season.
Kumar and Dale Steyn bowled straight to keep the batsmen quiet. They did not give the room to cut or drive in the first four overs.
Skipper Darren Sammy brought in two spinners in Rasool and leg spinner Karn Sharma quickly. Sharma with his first ball as he had the dangerous Chris Gayle caught at short third man.
The left-hander, who is having a poor run this IPL, was deceived by the bowler and the inside edge was taken by Rasool at short third man. RCB struggled and were 25 for two in the first six overs.