Credit: @ImTanujSingh
Kohli's century heroics eclipse RPS blunders in Bangalore thriller
On this day, May 7, 2016, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore crackled with anticipation. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), plagued by inconsistency, craved a turnaround. The Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS), on the other hand, sought to solidify their position in the IPL pecking order.
As the floodlights bathed the field in their glow, the stage was set for a compelling contest. However, the night ultimately belonged to one man, Virat Kohli, who weaved his magic with a match-winning century.
RPS, electing to bat first, began confidently. Ajinkya Rahane (74), the epitome of elegance, played some delightful strokes, finding the boundary with ease. Saurabh Tiwary (52) provided able support, anchoring the innings alongside Rahane. The duo threatened to post a mammoth total. However, what unfolded next exposed a chink in RPS' armour—their fielding.
In a bizarre turn of events, Tiwary was gifted three reprieves in a single over, with dropped catches becoming a recurring theme. To add insult to injury, a comical miscommunication between Shane Watson and Varun Aaron in the absence of a proper silly point fielder allowed Rahane to escape a seemingly straightforward dismissal. These lapses in the field proved costly, as both batsmen capitalised on their good fortune and built a solid foundation for RPS.
Credit: @CultViratian
Kohli on attacking mode
While the target of 192 was certainly within reach, RCB's fielding woes continued to haunt them. Openers Virat Kohli and KL Rahul provided a solid foundation, stitching together a 94-run partnership. Their intent was clear: to chase down the target with minimal fuss.
However, the middle order faltered. Adam Zampa, making his IPL debut for RPS, cast a spell on the RCB batsmen, dismissing the dangerous AB de Villiers and a well-settled KL Rahul in quick succession. With 89 runs required off 42 balls, the match hung in the balance.
Credit: @ImTanujSingh
Watson played a crucial knock
The experienced Shane Watson stepped into the spotlight at this critical juncture. Channelling his inner aggressor, he combined brute power with a touch of fortune to launch a brutal assault on Thisara Perera's bowling.
Boundaries rained down as Watson unleashed a flurry of five fours in a single over. Back-to-back sixes off Rajat Bhatia brought the equation down to a manageable 50 runs from 30 balls, reigniting RCB's hopes and sending shivers down the spines of the RPS bowlers.
RPS staged a brief fightback, dismissing Watson and Ravichandran Ashwin in quick succession. But this was merely a delaying tactic, for Virat Kohli (108), the maestro of chases, had other plans. Unfazed by the mini-collapse, Kohli took centre stage.
He began dismantling the RPS bowling attack with a repertoire of strokes that left the bowlers bewildered. Towering sixes soared over the long boundaries, while exquisite flicks raced to the fence.
Credit: @SumitRMarathe
The record-breaker
Treating the bowlers with disdain, Kohli dispatched Zampa and RP Singh for a flurry of boundaries and sixes. He reached his century in grand style, bringing the boisterous crowd to their feet. With four balls to spare, he smashed the winning boundary, etching his name in IPL history.
His unbeaten knock of 108 runs from just 58 deliveries not only sealed a convincing victory for RCB but also saw him become the fastest batsman to reach 500 runs in an IPL season, surpassing his teammate Chris Gayle's previous record.
