In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Mumbai Indians, thanks in large part to the stellar half-century by star batsman Virat Kohli. With the aid of six fours and five sixes, Kohli slammed 82 off just 49 deliveries, displaying incredible form. With his 50th 50-plus score in the IPL, he became the first cricketer from India to ever accomplish this remarkable accomplishment. David Warner, the opening player for the Delhi Capitals, leads the list with 60. Shikhar Dhawan, the captain of the Punjab Kings, is third overall on the chart with 49. Currently, Kohli has 45 fifty-sevens and five hundreds to his credit.
The King struck at 1️⃣6️⃣7️⃣.3️⃣ with 6×4️⃣s & 5×6️⃣s 🤌
Just another Chase Master classic at the Chinnaswamy 🤷♂️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #RCBvMI @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/PfMhoxa0xU
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 3, 2023
Kohli and Faf du Plessis’ opening partnership of 148 runs was a master class in chasing, and RCB’s 8-wicket win was a great way to start their IPL season.
Tilak Varma, who was given the chance to bat, made a great 84 off 46 balls, which helped MI reach a total of 171 for 7. However, Kohli and du Plessis both hit 50s, and RCB easily won with as few as 22 balls left.
A near-flawless 89-ball partnership between Kohli (82 not out) and Du Plessis (73), who were attempting to chase down 172, saw them rake in 10 boundaries and as many maximums.
Following the death of du Plessis in the 15th over, Kohli finished the job by hitting a four and a six off Arshad Khan to score the go-ahead runs and give MI their 11th straight loss in the season’s opening game.
In order to replace Suryakumar Yadav as their impact player, MI brought in Jason Behrendorff. However, this move backfired as Kohli and du Plessis took advantage of him and his new-ball companion Arshad by scoring 30 runs in three overs.
1️⃣st outing as RCB Captain at Namma Chinnaswamy:
Player of the Match. ✅
Catch of the Match. ✅#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #RCBvMI @faf1307 pic.twitter.com/ZmJ4pyV5W1— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 2, 2023
If du Plessis hit Behrendorff for consecutive sixes, Kohli blasted a four and six off Jofra Archer after the bowler dropped him in the first delivery.
Piyush Chawla, a seasoned spinner, was then inserted, but du Plessis sent him across extra cover, and Kohli pulled one off Archer across midwicket as RCB scored 53 in six overs.
Du Plessis then destroyed Cameron Green by striking two fours and a maximum. With two maximums, the captain gave Hrithik Shokeen the same treatment again until he reached fifty.
After that, Kohli hit Chawla over long on to raise the team total to 100, and in the 12th over, he reached his fifty-run milestone.
In the following, Jason Behrendorff lost 16 runs, and du Plessis cracked a six and a four. As the runs continued to come in quickly and heavily, Kohli then pulled Archer over a deep square leg. In the last over, MI managed to dismiss du Plessis and Dinesh Kartik (both 0), but it was too late. Glenn Maxwell (12 points out of 3 deliveries) and Kohli expertly wrapped up the game.
The 6️⃣ that sealed ✌️ points for us in our season opener tonight. 🤌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #RCBvMI
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 2, 2023
Prior to this, MI got off to a rough start, but Varma, fresh off a great season prior, kept the innings together with a sensational knock.
After RCB bowlers had brought MI down to 20 for three in 5.2 overs, Varma added 50 and 48 runs for the fifth and eighth wickets, with Nehal Wadhera (21) and Arshad Khan (15 not out).
The 20-year-old added nine boundaries and four strikeouts to his inning.
Ishan Kishan hit two fours before Mohammed Siraj got rid of him with an outswinger. Recce Topley then got rid of Cameron Green for his first IPL wicket.
In the fifth over, Siraj and Dinesh Kartik clashed as they were going for the catch, giving Rohit a life. The MI was reduced to 20 for 3 in 5.2 overs thanks to an edge that Akash Deep forced, but the India captain was unable to take advantage.
HOMECOMING and how! A clinical run chase today! 🤌
Brilliant start to our season🫶#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2023 #RCBvMI pic.twitter.com/juZDl3lvOg
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 2, 2023
The next time up, Varma slammed a big shot over long-on to push MI to a powerplay total of 29 for three.
Topley departed the field in the eighth inning after hurting his shoulder diving to block a boundary off Varma’s bat.
Poor-performing Suryakumar Yadav also lost his life after making a start by striking a direct shot at Shahbaz Ahmed.
Although Varma was still batting confidently, 16 runs came off the 12th inning after he reverse-swept Michael Bracewell for a four and then struck a six and a four off Maxwell.
Even though MI hit back-to-back sixes off of Karn Sharma, they fell to 99 for five when he caught Wadhera.
Tim David was the subject of high hopes, but Karn Sharma destroyed him when he attempted a big hit.
After that, Du Plessis made an outstanding catch to remove Hrithik Shokeen, giving Harshal Patel his first season-opening wicket, leaving MI at 123 for 7 after 17.1 overs.
Varma, on the other hand, showed his temper by smashing Akash Deep over a deep square leg for another maximum, which got him to 50.
As MI hit 149 for seven after the 16-run over, Siraj, who had figures of 3-0-5-1 after three overs, bowled the 19th over. However, he sent down five wides to stop Varma, who blasted two fours.
48 runs came in the final 17 deliveries before Varma blasted Harshal for two sixes and a four in the final over.