RCB vs PBKS: Virat Kohli scores centenary half-century in T20 cricket

Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli once again proved why he is considered one of the all-time greats in T20 cricket. Kohli scored a brilliant match-winning knock against Punjab Kings (PBKS) guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to a thrilling four-wicket win in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His masterful 77 off 49 balls was his 100th time scoring a fifty or more in T20 cricket, making him the first Indian and just the third player ever to reach the landmark.

Kohli has scored 12,092 runs across 378 appearances in T20 cricket thus far, averaging 41.26. The star batter has a stellar record of eight centuries in the format. The attacking batter also has the most runs in 20-over cricket among Indians, and sixth overall.

Playing for India in the 2022 T20 World Cup fixture against Afghanistan, Kohli registered his highest individual score in T20 cricket, with an unbeaten 122 off just 61 deliveries at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium,

However, the charts are led by Chris Gayle of the West Indies. Gayle has exceeded the 50-plus score on 110 occasions in his career, which also includes 22 centuries. Australian batting great, David Warner, is second with 109 times scoring 50 or more, with eight of them being centuries.

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Kohli's knock, DK-Lomror's cameos propel RCB to season's first win

Chasing 177 for victory, RCB struggled early and were reeling at 43/2. The 35-year-old had already gotten a lifeline when Jonny Bairstow dropped a catch off just the second ball of the innings. From there, the chase master took charge. Even as wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Kohli remained calm and carried his bat deep into the innings.

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His partner at the other end changed regularly, but Kohli marched on, bringing up his fifty. He fell victim to Harshal Patel's delivery in the 16th over to leave RCB needing 47 off 24 balls. Dinesh Karthik (28* off 10) in the end played a brilliant cameo alongside Mahipal Lomror (17* off 8) to guide the Faf du Plessis-led franchise to their first victory of the season.