On Sunday, Virat Kohli looked magnificent as the star batter scored a magnificent half-century to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to a win over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Kohli looked in superb form as he smashed 82 off 49 deliveries, including six fours and five sixes.
This was his 50th 50-plus score in the IPL, making him the first Indian cricketer to achieve the feat. Overall, Delhi Capitals opener David Warner leads the list with 60. Shikhar Dhawan of the Punjab Kings is third on the overall list, with 49 points. Kohli currently has 45 fifties and 5 hundred to his credit.
Kohli and Faf du Plessis delivered a chasing masterclass with a 148-run opening partnership as RCB made a sensational start to their IPL campaign with an eight-wicket win.
Tilak Varma smashed 84 off 46 balls to power MI to 171 for seven, but Kohli and du Plessis made a mockery of the total, slamming twin fifties as RCB romped home with as many as 22 balls to spare.
In pursuit of 172, Kohli (82 not out) and Du Plessis (73), plundering 10 boundaries and as many maximums during their near-flawless 89-ball stand, produced an exhibition of sublime stroke-making.
In the 15th over, when du Plessis was out, Kohli completed the task by hitting a four and a six off Arshad Khan to score the go-ahead runs and hand MI their 11th straight loss in the inaugural game of the season.
MI brought in Jason Behrendorff to replace Suryakumar Yadav as their impact player, but he and his new-ball partner Arshad were taken to the cleaners by Kohli and du Plessis, racking up 30 in three overs.
In contrast to Behrendorff, who was hit for two consecutive sixes by du Plessis, Kohli blasted a four and a six off Jofra Archer after the bowler dropped him in the first ball.
