During the 19th game of the IPL 2024, Royal
Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) legend Virat Kohli hit a solid century. It was the
first hundred in the IPL 2024, which was Kohli’s new IPL record eighth century
and ninth T20 century. With his latest century, Kohli also recorded the most
T20 centuries for a team.
Struggling RCB are desperate for a victory as
they faced in-form and unbeaten Rajasthan Royals in the 19th game of the IPL
2024 on Saturday (6th April) night at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.
Virat Kohli hit his eighth IPL century, ninth T20 century
After Rajasthan Royals chose to field first,
RCB opener Virat Kohli dominated the first innings. With the captain Faf du
Plessis, Kohli had a 125-run partnership in 14 overs for the first wicket. Apart
from Du Plessis (44), although no other RCB batters reached the double-digit
mark in that innings, former RCB skipper Kohli took full responsibility for setting up a challenging target for Rajasthan Royals.
In his sensible batting performance, while Kohli
first completed his fifty in 39 balls, he reached his hundred in 67 balls. His
113 not out off 72 balls (12 fours and four sixes) guided RCB to score 183/3 in
20 overs.
Most IPL centurion Virat Kohli now holds the record for most T20 centuries for a team
It was Virat Kohli’s eighth IPL century. There is no other batter to hit more than six centuries in IPL history (Chris Gayle and Jos Buttler both have hit six IPL centuries; Buttler recorded his sixth IPL hundred after Kohli’s eighth IPL century).
With his eighth century for RCB, Kohli set a new record for most T20 centuries for a team. He broke the record of Michael Klinger’s seven T20 centuries for Gloucestershire Gladiators.
It was also Kohli’s ninth T20 century. Only Chris Gayle (22 centuries) and Babar Azam (11 centuries) have hit more T20 hundreds than Kohli.
With 113 not out, Kohli recorded his joint-highest IPL score. However, his highest T20 score is 122 not out for India against Afghanistan in 2022.
While Kohli recorded this century in 67 balls, it was Kohli’s slowest T20 century. His previous slowest T20 hundred record was a 63-ball century against Gujarat Lions in 2016.
