Virat Kohli scored his 8th century in the IPL at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This achievement is notable because until now, his average score at this stadium was only 21. Despite the challenging pitch conditions, especially in the first half of the IPL 2024 match against Rajasthan, Kohli maintained RCB’s momentum.
His outstanding performance led RCB to a total of 183 for 3 in 20 overs against RR, a score that was considered competitive under the circumstances.
Virat Kohli IPL Century
Virat Kohli stood firm and scored an impressive 113 runs off 72 balls, leading the charge for RCB. The rest of the team contributed 59 runs off 48 balls. Despite Rajasthan Royals generously offering 11 extra runs, they chased down the target with ease, securing the win with 5 deliveries and 6 wickets to spare.
Jos Buttler shone with a century, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, while Sanju Samson supported with a quick 69 off 41 balls.
Kohli’s century, achieved in 67 balls, was one of the slowest in IPL history and the slowest on Indian soil. Despite his efforts, it wasn’t enough to secure victory for RCB. The game highlighted the shift in T20 cricket dynamics, with high-scoring matches becoming the norm. Recent IPL matches have seen teams scoring over 200 runs regularly, making 183 seem inadequate, particularly against strong batting line-ups.
The RCB bowling unit, considered one of the weakest in IPL 2024, struggled to defend the total. This match underscored the changing nature of T20 cricket, where anchors like Kohli face criticism for slower innings in the face of the ever-increasing demand for high-octane scoring.
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Is Virat Kohli Responsible for RCB’s Loss?
Some are questioning whether RCB made the most of their batting prowess in the recent match. Despite Virat Kohli’s century, concerns arose about the speed at which he reached the milestone. Critics on social media even argued that Kohli’s performance hindered the team rather than helping it. There’s speculation about Kohli’s effectiveness as an opener for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Was Kohli too slow? Let’s look at the numbers. Did Kohli contribute to RCB’s loss against RR? Once again, the numbers speak for themselves. While it’s tempting to blame Kohli for his ‘slowest’ IPL hundred, the bigger issue seems to be the lack of support for him from a struggling RCB side.
Kohli and captain Faf du Plessis started well with a partnership of 125 runs, but Kohli was doing most of the heavy lifting. After Du Plessis’s dismissal, RCB failed to capitalize on the momentum. Instead of sending in experienced players like Dinesh Karthik or Mahipal Lomror, RCB’s decision-making seemed questionable.
Virat Kohli continued to carry the burden of scoring, facing a formidable RR bowling attack. While he could have scored more aggressively in the powerplay and converted singles into doubles, it’s clear that the team’s overall strategy and support let him down.
Challenges and Opportunities for RCB’s Batting Line-up
Cricket is all about teamwork, and RCB really needs everyone to perform with the bat. Unfortunately, their bowlers haven’t been able to defend average scores this season.
Virat Kohli realizes that the rest of the batting lineup isn’t performing as expected. Although there are talented players, they’re not in their best form. If Kohli gets out early, who else will score runs? Others aren’t contributing much compared to him. He can’t afford to take high-risk shots early in the game, as it could lead to a low total like 120 instead of 183.
The dew in the evening made it harder for RCB. The stadium’s conditions don’t favor aggressive batting, and RR’s successful chase of over 180 runs was only the fourth time it happened. With RCB’s bowlers struggling, RR made it look easy.
Captain Faf du Plessis mentioned that the outfield was slippery when they were defending 183 runs. Also, RCB lacked quality spinners like R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal. While RR’s spinners took two wickets and gave away 62 runs in 8 overs, RCB’s inexperienced spinners conceded 63 runs without taking any wickets in just 4 overs.
Rajasthan started well, and Jos Buttler’s aggressive batting in the powerplay boosted their momentum. Buttler and Samson knew they had good backup batsmen like Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, and R Ashwin. Meanwhile, Kohli understood the importance of staying unbeaten to help RCB reach a competitive total.
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Is Virat Kohli Being Unfairly Criticized?
This season, Virat Kohli has been performing admirably, scoring 316 runs in 5 matches with a remarkable strike rate of 146. Among the team, only Faf du Plessis has managed to cross the 100-run mark.
Picture this: Virat Kohli steps onto the field, knowing he has players like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh coming up in the batting order. Wouldn’t he take a few more chances during the initial overs? We’ve seen flashes of this aggressive play, notably against Afghanistan earlier this year.
But let’s not be too harsh. Kohli is doing his utmost to carry the weight of an RCB batting lineup that’s struggling to find form. Even with his personal best IPL score, it’s not been enough to compensate for the team’s inconsistent bowling performance, which has been further aggravated by questionable decisions from the management within just 5 matches.
Despite Kohli’s stellar performance, it seems RCB might end up in the bottom half of the table, a scenario all too familiar for fans. However, it’s important to remember that this isn’t solely Kohli’s responsibility.
Virat Kohli IPL Century FAQs
Q.1. Was Virat Kohli’s century in IPL 2024 against RR slow?
Ans. Kohli’s century was one of the slowest in IPL history, raising questions about its impact on RCB’s performance.
Q.2. Did Kohli’s slow innings contribute to RCB’s loss?
Ans. While Kohli’s century was commendable, the lack of support from the team and strategic decisions also played a role in RCB’s loss.
Q.3. Why couldn’t RCB defend their total against RR?
Ans. RCB’s bowlers struggled, and the lack of quality spinners like R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal contributed to their inability to defend the total.
Q.4. What challenges does RCB’s batting lineup face?
Ans. RCB relies heavily on Kohli’s performance, and the inconsistent form of other players poses challenges to their batting lineup.
Q.5. Is Virat Kohli unfairly criticized for RCB’s performance?
Ans. While Kohli shoulders much of the team’s burden, factors beyond his control, such as bowling performance and team strategy, also influence RCB’s results.
