Royal Challengers Bangalore’s talisman Virat Kohli equalled Chris Gayle’s record for the most centuries in the history of Indian Premier League.
Kohli scored his sixth century in the league, with a majestic knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad at on Thursday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Buttler had come close earlier in the season, but fell for 95 against SRH in Jaipur.
IPL 2023: Heinrich Klaasen scores superb century in SRH vs RCB – ‘A super special player’
Kohli eventually fell for a 63-ball 100, reaching his ton with a majestic six but getting dismissed next ball. He played some imperious shots during his knock against SRH.
Further, this was the first time in the history of IPL that there was a centurion from both sides. Heinrich Klaasen scored a classic 104 off 51, but eventually, it was Kohli’s hundred that ended up on the winning side.
Batters with most centuries in IPL (3+)
Player | Tons |
---|---|
CH Gayle | 6 |
V Kohli | 6 |
JC Buttler | 5 |
DA Warner | 4 |
SR Watson | 4 |
KL Rahul | 4 |
AB de Villiers | 3 |
SV Samson | 3 |
“Nah, I never look at numbers,” said Kohli after Deep Dasgupta asked him about his below-par record against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the post-match presentation. “I was telling the boys the way I am looked at as an IPL player as well. It’s like, ‘You know, he’s fine. This is my sixth IPL hundred and I don’t think I give myself enough credit sometimes because I put myself under so much stress already that I don’t really care about what anyone says on the outside, to be honest.”
He added: “When you are in that situation yourself, you know how to win games of cricket and I’ve done that for a long period of time. So it’s not like when I play, I don’t win games for my team. It’s playing the situation that I take pride in. I’ve never been a guy who plays so many fancy shots and throwing my wicket away.”
Four of Kohli’s IPL centuries came in one season, when he amassed an incredible 973 runs in one edition back in 2016. His other century came in the 2019 season.
Earlier this season, Kohli became the first batter to cross the 7,000-run mark in the tournament’s history. The leading run-getter in the history of Indian Premier League, Kohli moved past the 7,000 milestone during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s match against Delhi Capitals. Kohli, perhaps fittingly, reached that landmark in Delhi which is his home ground.
After struggling for most of 2022, Kohli has been in much better touch in the IPL in 2023. He has already scored seven 50-plus innings this season.
Kohli in the IPL over the years
YEAR | MAT | RUNS | HS | AVG | SR | 100 | 50 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Career | 236 | 7162 | 113 | 36.73 | 129.63 | 6 | 50 |
2023 | 13 | 538 | 100 | 44.83 | 135.86 | 1 | 6 |
2022 | 16 | 341 | 73 | 22.73 | 115.99 | 0 | 2 |
2021 | 15 | 405 | 72* | 28.92 | 119.46 | 0 | 3 |
2020 | 15 | 466 | 90* | 42.36 | 121.35 | 0 | 3 |
2019 | 14 | 464 | 100 | 33.14 | 141.46 | 1 | 2 |
2018 | 14 | 530 | 92* | 48.18 | 139.10 | 0 | 4 |
2017 | 10 | 308 | 64 | 30.80 | 122.22 | 0 | 4 |
2016 | 16 | 973 | 113 | 81.08 | 152.03 | 4 | 7 |
2015 | 16 | 505 | 82* | 45.90 | 130.82 | 0 | 3 |
2014 | 14 | 359 | 73 | 27.61 | 122.10 | 0 | 2 |
2013 | 16 | 634 | 99 | 45.28 | 138.73 | 0 | 6 |
2012 | 16 | 364 | 73* | 28.00 | 111.65 | 0 | 2 |
2011 | 16 | 557 | 71 | 46.41 | 121.08 | 0 | 4 |
2010 | 16 | 307 | 58 | 27.90 | 144.81 | 0 | 1 |
2009 | 16 | 246 | 50 | 22.36 | 112.32 | 0 | 1 |
2008 | 13 | 165 | 38 | 15.00 | 105.09 | 0 | 0 |
#IPL2023
— The Field (@thefield_in) May 18, 2023
It doesn't get better! Virat Kohli is hitting them big 🔥
103m for six! 🤯
📹 IPLpic.twitter.com/RA5JtnMVqa
Here are some reactions to the Kohli knock:
VIRAAAAAAAAAAAT💪💪💪
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) May 18, 2023
King Kholi what a knock bhai @imVkohli 👑🔥🔥🙌🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) May 18, 2023
Klaasen 104 (51)
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 18, 2023
Kohli 100 (63)
First time in IPL history players from both sides have scored a century in a match #RCBvSRH
HISTORY - VIRAT KOHLI HAS MOST HUNDREDS BY AN INDIAN IN T20. pic.twitter.com/zPmiFFd9po
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) May 18, 2023
18th May 2016.
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) May 18, 2023
18th May 2023.
The King. The GOAT. 👑 🐐#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #SRHvRCB @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/w4ZJFjXOdg
Virat Kohli in #IPL
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) May 18, 2023
His 5th century - 100 for #RCB vs KKR at Kolkata on 19 Apr 2019
1489 days later, after 63 inns, 1736 runs, ave 31.00, S/r 124.27, 50s: 14 (HS: 90*).
Tonight registers his 6th century - 100 for RCB vs SRH at Hyderabad #IPL2023 #RCBvsSRH #RCBvSRH #SRHvRCB
👑 is back! 💯 🥳
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) May 18, 2023
Ian Bishop commentary + Kohli’s 100 🥳❤️👑👑
— mon (@4sacinom) May 18, 2023
Most IPL 100s:
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) May 18, 2023
6 - Gayle
6 - Kohli
5 - Buttler #RCBvSRH pic.twitter.com/b11y1dhQpI
That celebration, this hundred deserved an Ian Bishop commentary. Moment hai bhai, moment hai.
— Manya (@CSKian716) May 18, 2023
VK 18 on May 18 🐐 pic.twitter.com/K2IyLZGPMu
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) May 18, 2023
It was evident that this would be Virat’s day from the very first ball when he played that cover drive.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) May 18, 2023
Virat and Faf both looked in total control, they not only played many big shots but also ran rather well between the wickets to build a successful partnership.
186 wasn’t a… pic.twitter.com/YpIFVroZfi
This 💯 from Virat Kohli shall serve as an advice that you can use data all you want but when you see it for Virat then you can just use a caveat that you are looking at the best batter in the word and he shall always remain out of the boundaries of your numerical intelligence.
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) May 18, 2023
That celebration was special and then follows by the youngsters bowing down to Virat Kohli made it even more grand. What a knock. What a moment!#SRHvRCB
— Prajakta (@18prajakta) May 18, 2023
Virat Kohli is perhaps the last batter who doesn't have to change his technique when batting in a T20, ODI, and Test - and can adjust the tempo of his batting as per the needs of the chase. A remarkable skill.
— Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) May 18, 2023
All rise for the King 👑 what a spectacular innings @imVkohli 💯 a treat to watch! @RCBTweets #RCBvsSRH
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) May 18, 2023
The Twitterverse was abuzz as @imVkohli brought up his Sixth IPL Century 🫡🫡#TATAIPL #SRHvRCB pic.twitter.com/aTfpLIEYZN
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 18, 2023
Here are some dressing room reactions after the match: