It was a story of two centuries when Vira Kohli and Shubman Gill reached the triple-digit scores for their respective teams in the last league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans. Despite securing their spot in the playoffs, GT showed no mercy to the Bengaluru franchise who needed to win the match to advance in the tournament. Kohli thought he had done enough with the record in the 7th century in T20 competition, but Gill’s second successive ton took GT to a six-wicket victory. After RCB’s defeat, Virat Kohli was understandably frustrated and his reaction said everything about how he felt.
After Kohli scored a 61-ball 101 in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s 197 for five, it looked like the best try of the day, but Gill, who will be the torchbearer of Indian batting for the next 10 years, showed he is better than the best .
What Kohli did well Gill did better as with his unbeaten 104 off 52 balls Titans chased the target with ease. Like former India captain Kohli, this was Gill’s second consecutive hundred. Here’s how Kohli reacted after RCB crashed out of the tournament:
— ChhalRaheHainMujhe (@ChhalRahaHuMain) May 22, 2023
— ChhalRaheHainMujhe (@ChhalRahaHuMain) May 22, 2023
Most painful photo of the IPL.
King Kohli tried his best, scoring centuries in a row for RCB, but RCB gets knocked out. You have to feel for Virat! pic.twitter.com/ofzcxPdlHB
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 21, 2023
The season is over for RCB!
Started with high expectations like 15 previous years, but the results remain the same. They fought really hard all the time, especially Faf Du Plessis and Virat Kohli who gave their best. pic.twitter.com/ICW4Ee5ZB8
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 21, 2023
Thus, Titans ended the league games with 20 points, while CSK finished second with 17 points ahead of Lucknow Super Giants due to better net run rate. Mumbai Indians, after their eight wicket victory against SRH, were back in the last four with 16 runs.
Taking 34 from three overs, Gill’s short arm half jab, half pull from Mohammed Siraj was the killing blow, and then he hit him for another six to kill the game when Kohli hit his head in the dugout in disbelief.
RCB had their destiny in their own hands, but a poor execution while defending a healthy total was their downfall.
Gill was excellent in his touch play against pacers with that extra split second to play his shots, while the regal footwork against leg spinner Himanshu Sharma was a connoisseur’s delight.
Michael Bracewell’s pick-up flick behind the off-break square was easily the shot of the night, followed by a monster hit over a long time.
Gill had an able ally in Vijay Shankar (53 off 35 balls). The pair added 123 runs for the second wicket as Gujarat Titans never let the intensity down.
The difference between Gill’s winning knock and Kohli’s effort was the support on the other side. While Kohli had to do all the heavy lifting, Gill found support on the other side.
With PTI inputs
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