Virat Kohli has 309 runs in 14 matches with an average of 23.77 in the 2022 IPL.© BCCI/IPL
Virat Kohli scored 73 off 54 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday against Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 match. It was the former RCB skipper’s highest score to date in the current edition of the T20 franchise cricket league. With those innings, Kohli scored 309 runs in 14 games with an average of 23.77. Thanks to Kohli’s knockout, RCB chased a 169-run goal in 18.4 overs with eight wickets intact. RCB is still in the running for a play-off berth after the win. They have 16 points from 14 games and are currently fourth in the points table.
After the win, former Indian cricket team coach Ravi Shastri was asked about Kohli’s innings. “Okay, still not the best. But the doll is in the house, he announced it to the world. If they qualify for the playoffs, if there is a problem with Delhi Capitals, just wait and see. It is an announcement, it’s for the world, don’t mess with the doll, if there is class, respect class. It will teach all children to play,” Shastri said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
Before the match, IPL’s official broadcaster, Star Sports, aired an interview with Kohli, in which he said: “It’s not like a lot of people mentioned it (take a break). There’s exactly one person who mentioned it, and that is Ravi Bhai. That’s because for the past six to seven years he’s seen up close the reality of the situation I was in, the amount of cricket I’ve played. The ups and downs and the toll it takes on you to play three formats of the game plus the IPL for 10-11 years non-stop with seven years of captaincy in between.
“It’s definitely something you have to consider because you don’t want to do something that you’re not 100 percent a part of. And I’ve always believed in that in my life. So, to take a break and when to taking a break is of course something I have to call on. It’s just a healthy decision for everyone to take some time off and you know, rejuvenate yourself mentally and physically, not so much physically, because physical fitness keeps you up. But it’s the mental kind of reset you need and want to be excited about what you’re doing.
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