Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli scored a brilliant century against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens on Friday to put his team well on top. What was astonishing was the way he paced his innings.
Kohli took 40 balls to get to his first fifty. His next fifty took just 17 balls, taking the KKR bowlers to the cleaners in the final overs. RCB were in command, getting to an imposing 213/4 to put them on course to only their second win in the tournament.
The Indian captain’s latest masterclass, as always, found him breaking a slew of records. This was also his fifth hundred as a captain; four of those came in the historic 2016 season.
RCB need to win every game from here to stand a chance of getting to the playoffs. With Kohli in the mood, sky is the limit for the three-time finallists.
Here are a few Twitter reactions to Kohli’s hundred on Friday:
Most #IPL runs for one team
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 19, 2019
5326 - Virat Kohli #RCB
4351 - Suresh Raina #CSK
3671 - MS Dhoni #CSK
3589 - AB de Villiers RCB
3546 - Rohit Sharma #MI
3163 - Chris Gayle RCB
3035 - Gautam Gambhir #KKR
3029 - David Warner #SRH#IPL2019#KKRvRCB
Virat Kohli has now scored 50-plus runs in each of his last three IPL innings against KKR - 68*, 84, 100 (today)*#KKRvRCB
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 19, 2019
That Virat Kohli cover drive alone was worth the price of admission to the Eden Gardens today. This will be a fabulous contest!
— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) April 19, 2019
Unbelievable acceleration from the run-machine, the TON-MACHINE! Reaching new heights every time he steps out on the field.
— Sparsh Telang (@_cricketsparsh) April 19, 2019
We are out of words for this man. #KKRvRCB #KingKohli pic.twitter.com/oyZZ9Ic0ZQ
Looked scratchy for 2/3 of the innings....but didn’t give up. Moeen’s presence allowed Kohli to bide time. And then the master class to finish. Century number 5. #TonMachine #Kohli #KKRvRCB
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 19, 2019
Talk about intensity and enthusiasm, see Kohli. They're there all day along. No matter what happens. What an acceleration at the end! Dazzling ton!#KKRvRCB
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) April 19, 2019
VIRAT!!!!!!!!!!!🎉🎉🎉 you little biscuit @imVkohli Top knock from @MoeenaliAli as well👏Bowlers to follow through what’s been a very good 1st half
— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) April 19, 2019
Take a bow, @imVkohli. Top knock. Speaks volumes of his mental strength. Any captain after such a horrid show in the tournament would be struggling from within. 😍#IPL #KKRvRCB
— Ajith Ramamurthy (@Ajith_tweets) April 19, 2019
Considering the situation RCB are in the IPL this season, outstanding effort from @imVkohli. Not giving up!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 19, 2019
That was really enjoy watching that @imVkohli hundred. Quite a few interesting knocks in this years #viviipl where openers are seeing the importance of batting through the innings or going deep. Let’s see if @RCBTweets can defend this total.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) April 19, 2019
Most centuries in Twenty20 cricket as captain:
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 19, 2019
6 - Michael Klinger
5 - VIRAT KOHLI
3 - Chirs Gayle#IPL2019 #KKRvRCB
Sensational 100. The acceleration from Kohli has been awesome. Moeen set up the carnage and Kohli sealed it dramatically
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 19, 2019
This is Dinesh Karthik's present to Virat Kohli for being picked for the World Cup
— 💯 (@Youteecrush) April 19, 2019
