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Virat Kohli: Top 5 knocks in IPL 2016

Virat Kohli won the Orange Cap with 973 runs with average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03 by the end of IPL 2016.

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Virat Kohli bagged Orange Cap with 973 runs at the end of IPL 2016 © AFP
Virat Kohli was rewarded for ‘Most Valuable Player’ and ‘Most Sixes’ in IPL 2016 © AFP

Just when the flavor was missing out in IPL 2016, a 27-year-old Delhi lad got some spice and excitement to rather drab season of IPL. Virat Kohli – a batsman when writers go blank and one may feel they have missed out on some records, numbers. Kohli’s innings has got every person in a fix. Bagging the Orange Cap, smashing most number of sixes and ultimately turning out to be the Most Valuable Player in IPL surely, provides en number of talking points. His records speak volumes and will take a while for anyone to go past them. It surely looked a one-man army show. Being unafraid to show his emotions on the field or playing the game aggressively; managed blast through Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to final spot with the hopes to lift their maiden IPL title. Full Cricket Scorecard: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, IPL 2016 Final

His match-winning performances made us want to see more of it. Ending the league at 973 runs with average of 81.08 and a strike rate of 152.03 in one edition is no small feat and he remains the first batsman to do so in any edition so far. Kohli took every game as benchmark and tried to get better as the league progressed. It is hard to hand pick a few, yet let’s throw some light on the best performances by the ‘run-machine’:

1) Gujarat Lions (GL) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), 100* (63): This will be etched in the memory of many. No, not because it is Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday. This was the day when Kohli scored his maiden T20 century gifting his idol in the perfect way. It was a very unusual opening pair for RCB when Kohli entered with Shane Watson. The latter was gone too soon, that left captain Kohli with his best companion AB de Villiers. The pair that usually put up 100-runs stand was broken with de Villiers making his way out when GL’s spin attack proved to be heavy on RCB. Helping to carry forward the momentum, Kohli and KL Rahul were unstoppable with much needed partnership of 117. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli scores maiden T20 century on Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday

It was Dwayne Bravo for the last over of RCB innings; Kohli playing on 89 was on strike. First ball and single, getting Kohli closer to the target. With Rahul taking quick single got his skipper on strike. Kohli was on fire when deposited a full ball over mid-wicket fence for SIX. That got him closer to what could be termed as history. It was last ball of RCB inning and hammering that full toss straight towards the ground, Kohli achieved an unbelievable milestone, his maiden century! Unfortunately it went in vain as GL managed to snatch the victory from jaws of RCB by 6 wickets.

2) Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS), 108 (58): It was clash of MS Dhoni and Kohli, earlier Kohli missed out on reaching his second century target after being dismissed of 80 against RPS. This time Kohli decided to finish the incomplete task. Considering it was at RCB’s home ground, it was bound to be a run-fest. RCB won the toss and this time decided to field first. RPS put up mammoth total of 191. Chasing this down, RCB’s regular opening pair, Kohli and Rahul took their positions. Rahul was off the mark early on in the innings, while Kohli took his time to find the right gaps. Soon it was runs galore for RCB with these batsmen on the crease. Not until leg spinner Adam Zampa caught hold of Rahul at crucial point.

Just when de Villiers could have supported Kohli (like he usually does), he was picked as well by Thisara Perera. Shane Watson came in at No.4 and complimented Kohli . Watson was going on very well until RP Singh’s swing pulled out Watson for 36. Now the responsibility was on Kohli once again. Zampa was back into attack and that was the turning point for RCB. With two sixes and a boundary, the game changed in favor of RCB, thanks to Kohli. He did not stop there. It was time for RP Singh who faced the wreck of Kohli’s second century. Last two ball from 19th over and Kohli achieved his 2nd century in style. Kohli did not spare Ashoke Dinda as well, finishing off the game with his trademark flick for a boundary. ALSO READ: IPL 2016: Virat Kohli bags orange cap after record-breaking season for Royal Challengers Bangalore

3) Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Gujarat Lions (GL), 109 (55): Different venues, same teams and history repeated itself in a massive way. This time RCB took on GL at their home ground. GL won the toss and opted to field first. Chris Gayle was back in the squad and he started off with his skipper Kohli. The former was not up to the mark but it was Kohli and AB de Villiers who took the center stage, posting a mammoth total.  It seemed like a race between Kohli and de Villiers for their century, but the former succeeded at a lightning speed.For most part of the innings, the game belonged to de Villiers with his sixes and boundaries, easily sailing to a double hundred partnership with Kohli, adding to IPL records.

As always it was the last over and Kohli was 14 runs away from his third century. Praveen Kumar came into attack. Kohli began with two run to stay on strike to create another record. What happened the next ball seldom one would have missed out; two sixes and third century for the skipper. When he was dismissed, RCB had set up the second highest total in IPL of 248 alongside a record partnership of 229-runs with his partner. RCB defeated GL by a huge margin of 144 runs to remain alive in the tournament.

4) Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), 113 (50): The ritual did not stop; there was nothing that could stop Kohli. As the league progressed every game proved to be important for RCB to proceed for the Playoffs. It was Bengaluru and KXIP won toss, opting to field first. Rains played spoilsport reducing the game to 15-overs each. Knowing that the game was reduced by few overs, Kohli and Gayle went all guns blazing from the first over. The first half of RCB innings belonged to Gayle with his 73 runs that brought up the 100-runs stand between the opening duo.

The second part was all for Kohli. After Gayle’s dismissal, he picked up from where the left-hander left and by end of 14th over, Kohli had done the unimaginable. He did not have a single T20 century prior to IPL and by this match he had 4 to his name, bringing the fourth one in style once again. Kohli was dismissed for 133 runs off 50 balls. RCB managed to set a target of 211 and the game once again belonged to Kohli and co. ALSO READ: Virat Kohli paid the price for not selecting Sarfaraz Khan

5) Delhi Daredevils (DD) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), 54 (45): It was a do or die situation for both teams to seal the place in the Playoffs and the last of the league matches. With the game being held in DD’s home ground, RCB had to go all gun blazing with their form and that was exactly what RCB provided. DD was thrashed as all their players were dismissed for single digits, barring Quinton de Kock’s knock of 60 and Chris Morris unbeaten innings of 27 that provided a competitive total on board.

After posting a low target of 138, DD had to bounce back. Though DD got their main men Gayle and de Villiers, it was Rahul and Kohli bringing the show down for the opponent. Kohli allowed Rahul handle the game and played the second fiddle till the former got out to the Caribbean, Carlos Brathwaite from DD camp. In the end, Kohli not only helped to sail his side to Playoffs with his 10th fifty but also achieve 900 runs in IPL.

(Shruti Hariharan is a Content Writer with CricketCountry. You can follow her on Twitter at @Shruti_2890)

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