PBKS’ Ashutosh Sharma dropping a catch of RCB’s Virat Kohli on May 9, 2024.© BCCI
Virat Kohli starred with another batting masterclass in IPL 2024 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Punjab Kings by 60 runs in Dharamsala. A defeat in the game also officially eliminated PBKS from the playoff race. After getting an invitation to bat first, RCB posted 241 for 7 in their stipulated 20 overs. Kohli scored 92 runs off 47 balls with the help of 7 fours and 6 sixes. PBKS dropped plenty of catches and two of them were of Kohli.
The RCB star made sure that PBKS paid huge price for the missed chances on the field. The total proved to be too much for PBKS as they were bundled out for 181 runs in 17 overs during the chase. Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra criticised the fielding of PBKS with a rather funny comment.
“Kohli opened and it seemed like the Punjab players ate parathas with a lot of butter and then forgot to wash their hands. Who drops so many catches? Everyone was dropping catches – easy, easy catches. As the saying goes, if you drop so many catches, you drop the match,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
“If you give Virat Kohli one lifeline, he makes your bharta (mashes you) if you are a brinjal. If you give him two lifelines, you seldom live to tell the tale, and that’s what happened. The catches might have been slightly difficult but the one at cover was a regulation catch,” the former India opener added.
During his knock, Kohli crossed the mark of 1000 IPL runs against PBKS and thus became the first-ever batter in the history of the tournament to do it against three opponents. He already did it against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.
With the victory over PBKS on May 9, RCB kept their slim playoff hopes alive in IPL 2024. They now have 10 points after playing 12 matches in the tournament.
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