Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) legend Virat Kohli stormed into form with a brilliant half-century as the side stayed alive in the IPL playoff race with a convincing eight-wicket victory over table-toppers Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, May 19.
Chasing 168 after a 47-ball 62 from skipper Hardik Pandya, Kohli's 73 off 54 coupled with captain Faf du Plessis's 44 off 38 put up a match-winning 115-run opening stand before Glenn Maxwell (40 not out off 18) ensured that his team got home in 18.4 overs.
After this win, RCB moved to fourth in the standings with 16 points but will have to wait for the match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday, May 21, to know their fate. A loss for Delhi will ensure RCB's place in the playoffs.
Virat Kohli's much needed 50
When Kohli lofted Mohammed Shami for two boundaries over the bowler's head and cover in the third over, it looked like his night. His next four were a streaky one-off of Hardik's bowling. The very next ball, Kohli was at his animated best as he whipped Hardik towards square leg with Rashid Khan missing a tough chance in the deep.
With Kohli playing at his best, Du Plessis played his part perfectly and kept rotating the strike with the exception of an odd boundary.
After the captain's dismissal, Maxwell joined Kohli and fired from ball one. The Australian's cameo included a reverse scoop shot off Hardik that went all the way. After collecting his second six off Rashid, Kohli tried one too many and got stumped in the 17th over but the job had been done by then.
Pandya's 50 in vain
Earlier, Hardik lifted GT to a competitive total. Coming into the game with a string of low scores, his innings acted as a warmup for the playoffs with a well-crafted fifty even though he was not at his best. RCB limited GT to 72 for three in 10 overs, largely due to their brilliance in the field despite Wriddhiman Saha's (31 off 22) threatening stay in the middle.
Saha provided another brisk start with some clean hitting but his opening partner Shubman Gill went cheaply. The right-hander poked at a good length ball and Maxwell, standing at a widish first slip, plucked a stunning one-handed catch diving to his right.
Matthew Wade, who has not been at his explosive best in the IPL, fell to a controversial call that also attracted empathy from Kohli. Wade was sure that he under-edged a sweep shot off Maxwell and took no time in reviewing the on-field decision, which was out.
However, despite a clear deviation in the ball's trajectory before it thudded onto the pads, the UltraEdge did not detect it and the TV umpire stayed with the on-field umpire's call. Wade had no choice but to grudgingly walk back into the dugout. Saha, who hit four boundaries and a six, had Hardik for the company in the middle but following a mix-up with his captain, the wicketkeeper fell way short of his crease when Du Plessis came up with a stunning direct hit from mid-off.
Hardik, who was dropped on 14, made it count alongside David Miller (34 off 25), who continued his impressive run in the tournament.
Miller smashed three sixes before Wanindu Hasaranga got rid of him with a sharp return catch.
Rashid (19 not out off six) joined Hardik in the death overs and did what he has done over the course of the season. The leg-spinner whacked a couple of sixes towards the end to push the total past 160.
