Virat Kohli returned to form with a game-setting 54-ball 73 against the Gujarat Titans on Thursday, which has kept Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2022 playoffs qualification hopes alive.
After a string of low scores, Virat Kohli finally managed to put on a performance of note in a must-win game for RCB against GT on Thursday. Kohli scored a stroke-filled 73 in a successful chase of 169, setting it up with a 115-run opening stand with skipper Faf du Plessis (44 off 38).
Kohli’s season tally now goes to 309 from 14 innings, after he had averaged a paltry 19.67 in the first 13 with six single-digit scores including three first-ball ducks. The right-hander struck eight fours and two sixes during his knock, the highlight being a nonchalant flick off Rashid Khan over cow corner which got him to a half-century off 33 balls. He took Rashid downtown towards the sight screen later in the innings, before being stumped soon after.
Kohli also crossed the 7,000 run-mark for RCB in the process. The three-time finalists eventually hunt the total down with 8 wickets and 8 balls to spare. They’ll now hope for Mumbai Indians to beat the Delhi Capitals on Saturday to clear their path to the playoffs.
Here’s how the fans and experts reacted to Kohli’s knock:
KING FOR A REASON, KING OF ALL SEASONS.
Really happy to see our champ Virat Kohli is back in his ferocious form. #RCBvGT #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/leaQ9kzwzq
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) May 19, 2022
That was an emotional feeling for Virat Kohli. That was an emotional feeling for the fans who witnessed it. Welcome back, King!#RCBvGT
— Prajakta (@18prajakta) May 19, 2022
Watching the fire in the #ViratKohli after such a long time was so soothing to the eye. A real emotion and that’s beautiful.
The King is back! 🐐
— “Aha” Reads with Ravi 📚 (@raaveee1) May 19, 2022
Just another chase being finsihed by the King in absolute style❤️🔥
He’s back and he’ll go big and bigger🥵🥵
What a knock to give RCB a great qualification chance👏#GTvRCB #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/KeuJAhfQvs— Pratyush Mahapatra (@Pratyush__27) May 19, 2022
The king is back 🔥🔥🥳🥳
Thank you @imVkohli
— 💤 (@saikumarkosuri) May 19, 2022
Virat Kohli Things
– Remain out of form in the whole tournament
– Stood up in the do or die situation for RCB
– Played excellent innings against the most successful team of IPL 2022
– Biggest player of the big games, The King Kohli#ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvGT #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/5QMVbntCOd— Ahmad Haseeb (@iamAhmadhaseeb) May 19, 2022
King Virat Kohli charged up to smash 73 class knock , Faf 44 n Maxwell allround show helps RCB to 8 wkt win. Job done from their end n now hope MI can bt DC, to reach Playoffs .
— Rohan R Shanbhag (@rony619619) May 19, 2022
Cometh the hour.. Cometh the Champion.
Welcome Back King, you were missed!❤️❤️❤️Regardless whether #RCB make to the playoffs or not, this innings was special.
Above all, delighted as an Indian fan ❤️#RCBvGT #IPL2022 #CricketTwitter #KingKohli #ViratKohli𓃵
— Shahbad Ashraf (@shahbad) May 19, 2022
Go And Say in the Town,
The King is Back!!🕺🥂@imVkohli 👑 pic.twitter.com/kxk1btzqrN— Prashant Mishra (@prashu__8) May 19, 2022
