He becomes fastest to reach 14k T20 runs as RCB beat KKR by 6 wkts
Chhattisgarh: Virat Kohli silenced doubts with a majestic unbeaten century while also becoming the fastest player to complete 14,000 T20 runs as Royal Challengers Bengaluru chased down 193 to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets and reclaim the top spot in the IPL table.
After back-to-back ducks coming into the contest, Kohli responded with a masterclass under pressure, finishing unbeaten on 100 off 58 balls and reaching the 14,000-run milestone in just 409 innings, the quickest in T20 history. Chasing a challenging target on a surface offering uneven bounce and grip, the veteran opener mixed fluent strokeplay with sharp running between the wickets to anchor RCB’s pursuit.
Devdutt Padikkal provided crucial support with a brisk 39 off 27 deliveries, adding stability after Jacob Bethell fell early to Kartik Tyagi. Kohli, however, ensured the chase never drifted away, punishing loose deliveries while rotating strike expertly against both pace and spin.
The turning point arrived in the death overs when Kohli accelerated dramatically. He smashed a trademark flick for six off Kartik Tyagi before reaching his century in style with a single to long-off in the penultimate over. Jitesh Sharma then sealed the contest with a boundary off Saurabh Dubey as RCB finished on 194/4 in 19.1 overs.
Earlier, Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s fluent 71 off 46 balls powered KKR to a competitive 192/4 after being sent in to bat. The youngster handled the difficult conditions superbly, unfurling a range of elegant strokes while stitching vital partnerships with Cameron Green and Rinku Singh.
KKR lost Finn Allen early after his explosive start, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar removing the dangerous opener for 18. Ajinkya Rahane briefly counterattacked with 19 before Josh Hazlewood struck to leave the visitors wobbling in the PowerPlay.
Raghuvanshi then rebuilt smartly alongside Green, who contributed 32, before Rinku Singh’s unbeaten late cameo lifted KKR close to the 200-mark. However, Kohli’s brilliance and record-breaking night ultimately overshadowed the visitors’ effort as RCB completed one of their most polished chases of the season.
