NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has set a new record for the most half-centuries while batting first in T20 cricket, surpassing Pakistan’s Babar Azam.
Kohli achieved this milestone during an IPL match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
He scored 70 runs off 42 balls, including eight fours and two sixes, achieving a strike rate of 166.67. This was his first home half-century of the season in his fourth innings, having previously scored only 30 runs in three home matches.
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Kohli’s 70-run knock marked his 62nd fifty while batting first in T20s, one more than Babar’s 61.
He was dismissed by Jofra Archer for the first time in T20 cricket, having scored 103 runs off 80 balls against the bowler in 11 innings, with a strike rate of 128.75, including 12 fours and three sixes.
In the IPL, Kohli has risen to second place in the Orange Cap standings, amassing 392 runs in nine matches at an average of 65.33 and a strike rate of 144.11, with five half-centuries and a top score of 73 not out.
In the match, RR chose to bowl first after winning the toss. RCB’s innings started with a 61-run partnership between Phil Salt (26 off 23) and Kohli, followed by a 95-run stand between Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal (50 off 27).
Late contributions from Tim David (23 not out off 15) and Jitesh Sharma (20* off 10) helped RCB reach 205/5. Sandeep Sharma (2/45) and Jofra Archer (1/33) were notable bowlers for RR.
