“To be honest, I did not think I would get 100 in 15 overs. I was not believing all that was happening.”
It looks as though absolutely nothing can stop the destruction being caused by the devastatingly talented Indian cricketer, Virat Kohli.
Rain interruptions, game delays, and even an injury to his left hand could not stop the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain from causing havoc in Bengaluru against Kings Xi Punjab.
On May 18, 2016, RCB set the Kings XI a mammoth total of 211 from just 15 overs in a game cut short due to rain delays. The huge total was the franchise’s third score above 200 this season, and this one came at an incredible run rate of 14.06 runs per over.
Kohli and Gayle produced a masterful partnership vs Kings XI Punjab. In just 11 overs, the opening duo scored 147 runs together before Gayle’s wicket was taken. The Jamaican managed 73 runs from just 32 balls.
Kohli pressed on though, and inflicted further damage. He reached triple figures in just 47 balls before finishing with 113 runs from just 50 deliveries.
His spectacular innings came with 12 boundaries and 8 sixes, and even shocked the batsman himself. Kohli says: “To be honest, I did not think I would get 100 in 15 overs. I was not believing all that was happening.”
This was Kohli’s 4th century in the 2016 Vivo IPL, and that is the most by any player in a single season. Only Chris Gayle (5) has more centuries in the IPL since it began, surely that will not be the case for long.
Incredibly, Virat Kohli scored his 113 and fielded throughout the game with an injured left hand and eight stiches. Kohli says:
“When you get in to the zone, you feel like you can hit every ball. Today it was a little bit tricky as I felt a bit of a gap in my hand. First few balls, I was flinching a bit. Once I got the flow, I just tried to keep a base and kept going.”
Quick Stats and Records
120 ~ RCB have smashed 120 sixes so far in the 2016 Vivo IPL. The team need 8 more maximums in their final game to surpass Punjab’s record of 127 sixes in the 2014 IPL.
6224 ~ Virat Kohli has scored 6224 runs in all formats of Twenty20 cricket. That is the most by any Indian cricketer. Only Brad Hodge, Chris Gayle, David Warner, and Brendon McCullum are ahead of Kohli, but how long can they maintain that?
4002 ~ Of those T20 runs, Kohli has 4002 of them in the IPL. He is the first player to reach the 4000 run milestone in the tournament.
865 ~ He is also the first batsman in the IPL to score more than 800 runs in the regular season. Kohli is currently on 865 runs, and still has one more match to go with his RCB team.
4 ~ Virat Kohli scored his 4th century of the Vivo IPL, 2016 against KXIP. That is the most by any player in a single IPL season. Only Chris Gayle (5) has made more centuries in the IPL since it began.
What Next?
In this kind of form, Kohli will surely be surpassing Gayle’s record in the next IPL season. However, do not rule out him doing it on May 22, 2016 vs Delhi Daredevils in their final game of the regular season.
It looks as though there is no stopping the batsman now. With his positive drive and determination, anything has become possible for Virat Kohli.
Shivani says: “The fact that he has scored 4 centuries in this IPL, and one in a 15 over match, shows how dedicated and passionate he is for the sport. Even an injury did not stop him.”
There are even growing whispers of comparisons between Kohli, and the legendary, the iconic, the one and only, Sachin Tendulkar.
Kohli is still only 27 years old, and has time on his side in his bid to become the next Indian cricketing legend. Can he really do it?
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