A night of records, destruction, and one of the greatest partnerships in IPL history
Few moments in IPL history have been as brilliant as 14 May 2016, when Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers delivered a masterclass for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. The pair demolished the Gujarat Lions rather than merely dominating them.
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Both players scored centuries in the same innings, a rarity in T20 cricket. Kohli smashed 109 off 55 balls, while De Villiers scored an unbeaten 129 off 52 balls. What was the result? RCB posted a staggering 248/3, crushing the Gujarat Lions by 144 runs—one of the largest margins in IPL history.
This was more than just another IPL match. It was T20 perfection, with two modern greats tearing through a weak bowling attack and rewriting the record books.
The 229-run partnership was the greatest in T20 cricket at the time. It was a ruthless display highlighted by 15 fours and 20 sixes, contributing to a remarkable boundary feast. The batters surged brilliantly, scoring 167 runs in the final 9 overs at an astonishing pace.
It was only the second time in T20 history that two players had scored centuries in the same innings. Kohli and De Villiers were not merely batting but orchestrating an assault that Gujarat could not counter.
Kohli stepped in with intent, aware that a high total was necessary. He began cautiously, facing the disciplined opening overs from Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni. However, once settled, Kohli flipped a switch; he advanced down the track, found the gaps, and pulled with precision, skillfully building his innings and accelerating when required.
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He scored his first 50 runs in 39 balls and, incredibly, his final 50 runs in just 14 balls. Kohli went on a rampage in the last three overs, scoring 57 off 14 balls. His century, his third of the season, set the record for the most tonnes in a single IPL edition then. For RCB, this was more than just another Kohli innings; it was a captain leading from the front in style.
If Kohli’s century was executed precisely, De Villiers’ innings was a chaotic devastation, with strokes that defied logic and balls flying all over the field. He scored 50 runs off just 25 balls, proving he was already in a different zone, and went on to score 100 off 43 balls—a century based on remarkable innovation with a strike rate of 248.07, demonstrating total control.
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At the 11-over stage, RCB had achieved only 81 runs, but by the end, they had soared to 248, with De Villiers at the helm of this astonishing surge. While Kohli maintained the tempo, De Villiers stole the show, leaving the Gujarat bowlers defenceless with 12 sixes and 10 fours.
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
RCB did not merely win; they utterly demolished Gujarat. Their bowling attack excelled as they bowled out Gujarat for just 104 runs. The partnership between Kohli and De Villiers not only made the crucial difference but also defined the match. This encounter remains one of the greatest IPL performances ever, illustrating what transpires when two of cricket’s finest go all in.
As IPL 2025 approaches, fans recall that magical night in Bengaluru when Kohli and De Villiers crafted a masterpiece.
