Virat Kohli scripted history on Monday night as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) chased 177 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match no. 6 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The former RCB skipper smashed a half-century, bringing up his 100th fifty-plus score in the shortest format of the game. In fact, he is now the first Indian and third batter across the world to reach this feat in T20 cricket.
It was also the first half-century for Kohli in IPL 2024, notching it up in just 31 deliveries. He is placed third on the list of batters with the most 50-plus scores in T20 cricket. ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle is on the top of the charts with 110 fifty-plus scores and 14562 runs, followed by veteran Australia batter David Warner (109 fifty-plus scores and 12094 runs).
Earlier in the first innings, Kohli took his 173rd catch to ascend to the top of the list of Indians with the most catches in T20 cricket. He took the catch of Jonny Bairstow as his milestone dismissal, surpassing former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Suresh Raina.
Pacer Mohammed Siraj and Glenn Maxwell grabbed two wickets each for Royal Challengers Bengaluru but Punjab Kings still managed a fighting 176 for 6. Siraj (2/26) accounted for Jonny Bairstow and Jitesh Sharma, while Maxwell (2/29) got rid of the dangerous Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh.
PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan provided the early momentum with a fine 37-ball 45, while Sam Curran (23) and Jitesh Sharma (27) spurred the run-rate at the back end.
Dhawan shared a 55-run partnership with Prabhsimran Singh (25) as the duo overcame the early loss of Jonny Bairstow to guide the team to 72/2 before Curran and Jitesh came up with another half-century stand to give the visitors a competitive total.
