The ever consistent Virat Kohli scored a massive hundred in a match which was called off later at the penultimate ball, against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to help the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) register their win and keep the hopes on for the playoffs, as they managed to beat KXIP by 80 runs through D/L method.
The match, which was lowered down to 15-overs each after the rain came and the play could not start on its regular time. After the play began, it was the time for raining sixes as both the openers of the RCB took the ball out of the stadium through air. VIrat Kohli, who scored a blistering century and made 113 for just 50 deliveries helped the RCB side to take the total above 200. Kohli with Chris Gayle (73 off 32) made a massive 147-runs partnership for the first wicket.
Kohli who has scored three centuries in this season of IPL against Gujarat Lions (100*, 109) and Rising Pune Supergiants (108*) and now has become the only cricketer who has scored centuries more than twice in an IPL season. Adding more feathers to his crown, Kohli, who is the most run scorer in the IPL 9 with 865 runs, became the only player to complete 4,000 runs in IPL.
In response, KXIP were never in the game and huge target of 212 was beyond their reach. The wickets fell at regular intervals and the Punjab batsmen just could hold on enough to stay at the middle and score runs. Top scorer of the side Wriddhiman Saha (24 off 10) was looking good but he, too, could not pull a win for the team. KXIP were on 120 for 9 in less that a delivery for the 15th over, when the rain returned and match was later called off due to the wet outfield. RCB, who was ahead of KXIP according to the (D/L method) declared as winners by 80 runs.
It was the only Virat Kohli show on the M. Chinnaswamy stadium of Bangalore on Wednesday. Thanks to Kohli’s century RCB who was at the fifth spot before the match, now has jumped to second with the strong net run rate. It definitely will help the RCB to get qualified for the playoffs. On the other hand, Punjab is already out of the tournament.
Scorecard
Royal Challengers Bangalore innings
| Details | Scores |
| C Gayle c D Miller b A Patel | 73 (32b, 4x4, 8x6, SR 220.13) |
| V Kohli (c) c D Milelr b S Sharma | 113 (50b, 12x4, 8x6, SR 226.00) |
| AB de Villiers b K Abbott | 0 (2b, SR 0.00) |
| KL Rahul (wk) not out | 16 (6b, 3x4, SR 266.67) |
| S Watson not out | 1 (2b, SR 50.00) |
| Extras (w6, nb2) | 8 |
| Total (3 Wickets, 15 Overs) | 211 (RR 14.06 runs per over) |
Kings XI Punjab innings
| Details | Scores |
| M Vijay (c) b S Aravind | 16 (8b, 2x4, 1x6, SR 200.00) |
| H Amla c C Jordan b S Aravind | 9 (6b, 1x6, SR 150.00) |
| W Saha (wk) lbw b Y Chahal | 24 (10b, 5x4, SR 240.00) |
| D Miller c AB de Villiers b S Watson | 3 (6b, SR 50.00) |
| GS Mann c C Gayle b Y Chahal | 18 (18b, 2x4, 100.00) |
| A Patel c V Kohli b S Watson | 13 (9b, 1x4, 1x6. 144.44) |
| F Behardien c AB de Villers b Y Chahal | 0 (1b, SR 0.00) |
| K Abbott c AB de Villiers b y Chahal | 0 (1b, SR 0.00) |
| M Sharma run out (S Watson/S Baby) | 14 (12b, 2x4, 116.67) |
| KC Cariappa not out | 12 (8b, 1x6, SR 150.00) |
| S Sharma not out | 5 (5b, SR 100.00 ) |
| Extras (lb1, w5) | 6 |
| Total (9 Wickets, 20 Overs) | 120 (RR 8.57 runs per over) |
By Prajakt K.
