A Critical Review of Virat Kohli’s IPL Centuries

Virat Kohli is one of the best batters in the world, and an icon of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though he is currently undergoing a run drought, he is capable of coming out of it very soon. Even his critiques acknowledge the fact that when Kohli is in form, he can change the fate of the game on his own. The Indian batting star has been providing fans with what they had wished for years, and every time he scores a century, it is an experience worth watching. VISIT HERE

IPL Career

Though the entire Indian cricket team is a force to be reckoned with, their ex-T20 captain is someone you should never underestimate.

In recent years, Virat Kohli has single-handedly won many matches for his teams; both in domestic or franchise cricket and international matches.

The 33-year-old batting great has numerous batting records to his name at the international level, and his IPL records are not bad either. In 174 IPL matches, Kohli has scored 5344 runs with an average of 38.2. Over the years, Kohli has scored five T20 hundred in the IPL. Only the self-proclaimed Universe Boss, Chris Gayle has more (6), IPL centuries than Kohli. It is an impressive number considering very few have accomplished such feats at all.

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Virat Kohli’s IPL Centuries

Virat Kohli, who took over the reins of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2013, had no IPL century to his name in the first eight seasons. However, the year 2016 brought about a surprise change in Kohli’s batting. He scored four centuries in the 9th edition of the IPL and ended the season with massive 973 runs to his name, most by any player in a single season of IPL.

Let’s have a look at the five IPL centuries Virat Kohli’s:

1) Against Kings XI Punjab –  113

This was Kohli’s first and so far the only IPL century against Kings XI Punjab, now called, Punjab Kings. It came on May 18, 2016, at Chinnaswami Stadium.

This was one of the most authoritarian innings and eventually his highest score in the tournament. The RCB wanted to get into the playoffs, but it was not easy. Virat had been having a tough day at the field and the persistent rains had made batting even more difficult.

During the same match, Kohli suffered a blow on his hand and had split webbing. He came to bat with seven stitches in his hand, and still managed a heroic 113 studded with 12 fours in eight humongous sixes. The century led RCB to a massive IPL victory over Kings XI in match 50th of 9th addition and earned his side a spot in the playoffs.

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2) Against Rising Pune Supergiants – 108

Rounding off the first inning with a score of 191, Rising Pune Supergiants seemed unstoppable. The RCB bowlers struggled early and conceded a big total in a home game at Chinnaswamy stadium on May 7, 2016.

The RCB boys knew they had their hands full if they wanted any chance at all in that game. It was, however, right down the alley of chase master Virat Kohli. He made a short work of it with a brilliant 108 from 58 deliveries, including eight boundaries and seven sixes to snatch the game from Pune’s grasp.

3) Against Kolkata Knight Riders – 100

It was Kohli’s another hundred in the winning cause, though it came while batting first in an away game against Kolkata Knight Riders. The match was played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 19, 2019. Kohli came to open the innings with Prithvi Patel and started slowly. However, he picked up the pace in the second part of the innings and scored 100 runs in 58 balls to take his team’s total 213.

Needing 214 to win, KKR started poorly and were reduced 79/4. West Indies all-rounder Andre Russel played a blinder of innings to keep the chase alive, but KKR eventually fell 10 runs short. Kohli was adjudged Man of the Match.

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4) Against Gujarat Lions – 109

This was Virat’s second IPL century against Gujrat Lions, and third overall. It came on May 14, 2016, in a home game against Gujrat at the Chinnaswamy stadium. After winning the toss, GL put RCB into bat, an opportunity grabbed with both hands.

With Gayle out early in the innings, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli lightened up Chinnaswamy stadium with sixes and fours. The duo stitched together a partnership of 229 in about 16 overs, thanks to a 53-ball century by Virat Kohli. AB de Villiers also scored an unbeaten 129 runs in that match to set a 249-run target for KKR.

Chasing a humongous target, GL were bundled out for mere 104 runs in the 19th over, and RCB won the game by a massive 138-run margin.

5) Against Gujrat Lions – 100

This was Virat’s first-ever IPL century and it came in an away game against Gujrat Lions on April 24, 2016. Opening the first inning alongside Shane Watson, Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 100 off 63 balls at a strike rate of 158.23. The innings included 11 boundaries and one six.

Even though Kohli and Co had piled up 180 runs, Suresh Raina-led chased it down and eventually won the match. Kohli was awarded the “Man Of The Match” because of his brilliant performance.