Virat Kohli continues sensational run in T20 tournament finals, produces another chase masterclass
Ahmedabad, June 1
Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Indian batting icon Virat Kohli continued his incredible record in T20 finals with a sensational 75* against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League final against Gujarat Titans.
In a tense run-chase, Virat produced a 42-ball 75*, finishing off the match with a four and six while chasing 156 as wickets fell from the other end.
In nine T20 tournament final appearances, Virat has scored 419 runs at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 132.59, including four fifties and a best score of 77. He is the only Indian with four fifty-plus scores in T20 tournament finals and has the highest batting average among batters with 300-plus runs in T20 tournament finals.
Virat ended the tournament as the fourth-highest run-getter with 675 runs in 16 innings at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.84, with a century and five fifties and a best score of 105*.
Put to bat first by RCB, GT scored just 155/8 in 20 overs, with Washington Sundar (50* in 37 balls, with five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 in 18 balls, with three fours) being the only one to cross the 20-run mark. Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) took wickets regularly.
RCB started off well with a 62-run stand between Venkatesh Iyer (32 in 16 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Virat Kohli. GT showed some fight, reducing RCB to 132/5 at one point, but Virat (75* in 42 balls, with nine fours and three sixes) guided RCB to a win with two overs left.
This is RCB's second IPL title win and overall their fourth Indian franchise cricket trophy, including two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Great win for RCB but honestly, Washington Sundar's fifty deserves more credit. Came in at a tough situation and anchored the innings when GT looked like posting 170+. Virat finished it off nicely though.
Finally RCB gets another title! 🏆 After all those years of 'Ee Sala Cup Namde' frustration. Virat's consistency in finals is unreal - 4 fifties in 9 finals? That's some serious temperament. Bowlers also stepped up today, especially Rasikh Dar with those 3 wickets. Team effort! 👏👏
Not taking anything away from Kohli but RCB's middle order needs serious work. If they rely only on Virat in every final, one day it might backfire. Good thing the bowlers kept GT to a low total. Need a more balanced batting approach next season.
Incredible knock from Kohli! Chasing 156 and finishing with 75* off 42 balls - that strike rate of 178 shows he's evolved his T20 game. Two IPL titles for RCB now, and with the WPL wins too, it's a great era for the franchise. Kohli's legacy keeps growing! 🇮🇳
Bhagwan ka shukr hai, finally RCB won! 🙏 Virat bhai ne dikha diya ki finals mein pressure handle karna aata hai. But honestly, GT's batting was poor - 155 on this pitch wasn't enough. Sundar's fifty was a lone bright spot for them. Happy for the RCB fans though - 8 saal ka intezaar khatam! 💛❤️
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