When it comes to centuries, Kohli leads the table in the Indian Premier League
Be it international cricket or domestic, Virat Kohli or his exploits need no introduction. However, at times, some of his batting adventures must be recalled. After all, they serve as a reminder of how he started and where he stands now.
At present, Virat Kohli is the Indian Premier League's (IPL) top run-scorer, having played in the tournament since 2008. However, many may not remember that he is also the leading centurion in the tournament, with eight centuries.
Fun fact: Kohli started in 2008, but it took him eight lengthy years to score his maiden century in the league. Which year, against whom and where?
Replacing Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Lions was one of the teams alongside Rising Pune Supergiants. Despite being a new outfit and playing only two seasons, the Lions were not easy prey. After all, in their first season, i.e., 2016, the Lions finished at the top of the table, winning nine out of 14 matches.
That year, the Lions played three games against Bengaluru, having won one but lost the other two. However, the one match they won, Bengaluru still stole the show because it was all about Virat Kohli.
Batting first at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot, Shane Watson and AB de Villiers left the crease early. However, a determined 27-year-old Virat Kohli wanted to take his superb form to another level.
For the unversed soul, 2016 was Kohli's best IPL season, having scored 973 runs – a record that stands intact even today.
Instead of being too bombastic, Kohli played with patience, slowly navigating through the innings at a steady pace. He spent 88 minutes on the crease to face 63 balls and complete his maiden 100 at a strike rate of 158.73, which comprised 11 fours and one six.
Kohli remained unbeaten until the end, whereas KL Rahul added 51 crucial runs without making much noise.
At the Lions' home ground, the home crowd chanted Kohli's name and applauded his innings, which helped Bengaluru post a target of 181 runs.
For reasons unknown, Bengaluru's bowling stint has always been poor despite getting some of the best names on paper. The team has always had great batters who scored tonnes of runs and posted huge targets for the opposition, but the bowlers simply did not offer enough support.
From Gujarat's pavilion, short but steady innings by Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, and Dinesh Karthik took the game away from Bengaluru.
Virat Kohli's efforts went in vain, as they have on multiple occasions. However, since then, Kohli has scored seven more centuries and hopes to add multiple more in the years to come. However, if there's anything else that Kohli wishes for, it is the IPL trophy that has avoided his golden touch for 18 lengthy years.
