The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Star batsman Virat Kohli bluntly defended his slow century in the 19th match of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) against Sanju Samson-led Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Saturday, April 6 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur .
RCB were invited to bat first in the match and Virat Kohli once again held his own with the bat. He was the only warrior in his team in the innings and scored a slow but important century to take his team to a good total of 183/3.
Kohli completed his half-century off 39 balls and then reached the century milestone off 67 balls. He remained unbeaten throughout the innings and finished with 113 runs in 72 balls. He scored runs at a strike rate of 156.94 and his knock was studded with 12 fours and 4 sixes.
Kohli’s ton was the slowest in IPL history and overall the slowest for India. Notably, Manish Pandey had also hit a century of 67 balls in 2009 at Centurion.
Slowest IPL hundreds (by balls taken):
67 – Manish Pandey (RCB) v Deccan Chargers, Centurion, 2009
67 – Virat Kohli (RCB) v RR, Jaipur, 2024
66 – Sachin Tendulkar (MI) v KTK, Bombay WS, 2011
66 – David Warner (DC) v KKR, Delhi, 2010
66 – Jos Buttler (RR) v MI, Mumbai DYP, 2022
The wicket looks quite different from the outside – Virat Kohli
Speaking during the mid-innings break, Virat Kohli bluntly justified his slow knock, saying that it was not easy to bat on the track and the ball held up in the field. He said:
“The wicket looks very different from outside. It feels like it’s flat, but the ball stays on the pitch, that’s when you realize the pace changes.”
Virat Kohli further said that he had decided with his opening partner Faf du Plessis that one of them had to bat till the end and after the RCB captain’s dismissal, he had to bat deep. Virat Kohli said:
“One of us (Virat or Faf) had to bat till the end. I feel this total is effective on this pitch. I didn’t go in with any premeditation. I knew I couldn’t be too aggressive, I just had to do it.” keep players guessing. It’s just experience and maturity to play the conditions.”
Virat Kohli added that chasing the total would not be easy on the surface even if dew comes into play. Virat Kohli said:
“Even if there is dew, the surface is rough and dry, it won’t be easy for the batsmen. I couldn’t get under the ball against Ashwin. I couldn’t get forward towards mid-wicket, so I had to aim straight at the ground.” “.
With his century, Kohli also extended his record for most tons in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has 8 centuries and is followed by Chris Gayle on the list who has 6.
Most hundreds in the IPL
8 – Virat Kohli
6 – Chris Gayle
5 – Yes butler
4 – KL Rahul
4-David Warner
4-Shane Watson