Mumbai: Virat Kohli, along with Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis, came out with a mission to chase Gujarat Titans’ goal of 169 in a must-win situation at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, making fans feel that history would be scripted as the King return to the field with full force.
Kohli made a handsome 73, an inning that earned him the Player of the Match award as well as it was his highest in IPL 2022. The duo of Kohli-Faf put together an opening partnership of 115 before Glenn Maxwell took the charge and smacked 40 in 18 to help RCB win by 8 wickets and as many deliveries to spare.
Seeing King Kohli in action in a do-or-die situation, fans were more than glad to see the former skipper return to form when the stakes were high. Not just fans, the entire world is delighted to see his comeback.
Must win game, play-offs chances on edge and King Kohli stands up and scored fifty from 33 balls in the run chase. King is back. pic.twitter.com/ZovakBDCah
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 19, 2022
In the shortest format of the game, the former RCB captain also reached 7,000 runs with the Bangalore franchise. Kohli, the IPL’s all-time leading run scorer, has become the first player in T20 cricket history to score 7,000 runs for a single franchise. In the 15th season of the cash-rich league, the 33-year-old had also set a new best score.
#Kohli crosses the 7000* T20 runs milestone for #RCB. The one and only, and by far the most prolific batsman for this franchise👌👏#ViratKohli #GTvRCB https://t.co/xEPmp69xlp
— Kaushik LM (@LMKMovieManiac) May 19, 2022
This is called PEACE 🙌❣️😍1⃣8⃣ #VK18 #Kohli #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/4GaObsys6U
— Gaurav Thakare (@GauravTh18) May 19, 2022
Heck yes! This is the Virat Kohli I stay up all night to watch! He’s is on FIRE! Good opening partnership too here from the boys. 🔥 #RCBvGT
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) May 19, 2022
Everyone in the ground stands – the importance of the form of Kohli and situation of RCB. pic.twitter.com/K631R5lFN7
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 19, 2022
TELL THE WORLD , TELL THE WORLD. THE KING, #ViratKohli IS BACK MFS. pic.twitter.com/NMrbbbBofG
— neeraj. (@_masterofchase_) May 19, 2022
‘Din aur raat logon ke hote honge, sheron ka zamana hota hai!’ 🔥💪🏼
There ain’t no sher like you, #ViratKohli! There just ain’t! #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/evvKBKWMMY
— Tanay Tiwari (@Tanay_Tiwari) May 19, 2022
However, during the post-match, Kohli admitted to not having contributed much to his side in the IPL 2022 edition. “I can keep going. It was an important game. I was disappointed that I haven’t done much for my team and that is what bothers me, not the stats. Today was a game where I was able to create an impact for the team. Puts us in a good position,” Kohli said in the post-match presentation.
“I have worked really hard. I batted 90 minutes in the nets yesterday. I came in very free and relaxed. It is in that spur of the moment why is it happening to me,” Kohli said.
In the cash-rich league’s 2022 season, the 33-year-old has battled for form. In the 15th season of the cash-rich league, the RCB’s top batter recorded three golden ducks.
Kohli, the all-time highest run scorer in IPL history, has 309 runs from 14 matches this season. Kohli’s second fifty in the IPL 2022 has put RCB in contention for the playoffs.
