Follow UsVirat Kohli continued his sublime form in this edition of the Indian Premier League as he slammed his second hundred of the season to propel the Royal Challengers Bangalore to 197 runs in the first innings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, May 21.
After being asked to bat first, Kohli displayed an array of strokes all around the ground to score successive tons and lead Bangalore's charge in this must-win clash.
The 34-year-old remained unbeaten on 101 off 61 deliveries and forged a crucial 64-run partnership with Anuj Rawat to provide some much-needed impetus in the back end of the innings.
Back to back centuries for Virat Kohli! 🙌 🤌
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) May 21, 2023
Brings up his 7️⃣th IPL Century! There is no competition! G.O.A.T #PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/w8xmFqccny
"We would have taken this total with both hands once we were five wickets down through the middle overs with Anuj as the last recognised batsman left," Kohli said in the mid-innings break.
"We targeted 190 when we lost five, but getting close to 200 is a very competitive and winnable score for me. A lot of people think that my T20 cricket is declining, but I don't feel like that at all."
"I think I am playing my best T20 cricket again. I'm just enjoying myself, and this is how I play T20 cricket. I look to hit gaps, hit a lot of boundaries and then the big ones towards the end if the situation allows me to," he added.
Kohli also admitted that while the surface at the Chinnaswamy is conducive for batting, it was not a typical wicket where strokeplay was easy.
"Spin wasn't easy to get away, and there's enough in this pitch for our bowlers to make a dent through the innings. What matters is to stay in the present in these kinds of situations. I wasn't focusing on the rain, I was just focused on what I need to do for the team," he concluded.
In reply, Shubman Gill responded with a blistering century to power the Gujarat Titans over the line by six wickets and knock Bangalore out of the competition.