Bengaluru: In the must-win clash against the table-toppers Gujarat Lions, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli and run-machine AB de Villiers smashed individual tons to power RCB to a massive total of 248/3.
Kohli smashed his third century of the IPL season scoring 109 runs in 55 balls that included five fours and eight sixes. Meanwhile, AB de Villiers turned out to be one of the worst nightmares for Gujarat Lions hitting 129 runs off just 52 deliveries with ten fours and twelve sixes.
While the team was under pressure in a must-win for RCB to qualify for play-offs, the duo not only put on a magnificent batting exhibition but also broke a myriad records. Lets have a look.
- Both Kohli and de Villiers smashed their third individual tons in the Indian Premier League.
- Virat Kohli has become the first player in the history of IPL to hit three centuries in one edition.
- Moreover, Kohli is now the Indian player in the IPL to score most runs in a single edition -- 677 runs in 11 matches so far that include three centuries and four half-centuries.
- This is the first time that both batsmen have scored a century each in one innings.
- 229, the partnership between Kohli and de Villiers for the second wicket, is the highest in T20 cricket. The previous record of 215 runs against Mumbai Indians in 2015 was also made by these two.
- De Villiers took 43 balls to complete his ton, the fifth fastest in IPL. Other batsmen ahead of him are Chris Gayle, Yusuf Pathan, David Miller and Adam Gilchrist.
- In his innings of 129 runs, de Villiers scored 112 runs in fours and sixes (ten fours and twelve sixes).
- RCB defeated Gujarat Lions by a massive 144 runs, the biggest ever victory in the history of Indian Premier League.
Cricketers and experts from round the world congratulated the duo for their swashbuckling batting performances on Twitter.
