IPL 2022: Virat Kohli hits 58 but Bangalore lose to high-flying Gujarat

Virat Kohli returned to form with his maiden half-century of this Indian Premier League season on Saturday but failed to inspire Royal Challengers Bangalore, who were knocked out by their third straight defeat.

After a low score including two golden ducks, Kohli smashed 53-ball 58 against Gujarat Titans to take Bangalore to 170 for 6 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Gujarat were in trouble at 95/4 in 12.5 overs when David Miller (39) and Rahul Tewatia (43) stitched an unbeaten 79-run partnership to help their side win with three balls and six wickets to spare.

The left-handed batting pair slammed the Bangalore bowlers for boundaries and Tewatia, who the commentators called the ice-man for his finishing abilities, hit the winning six. Gujarat, one of the two new teams to be included in the world’s most valuable cricket tournament, consolidated their position at the top of the 10-team table with eight wins from nine matches.

Bengaluru captain Faf du Plessis said after the loss, ‘We started well with the ball but they played under pressure because they are in the tournament. On Kohli’s performance, du Plessis called it “a big step in the right direction to get to a solid 50”. “You want one of your top four to come in the ’70s in the future, so that’s good,” he said.

Kohli opened the Bangalore innings for the second time and went on to hit two boundaries off pacer Mohammed Shami when du Plessis elected to bat first due to the scorching heat. Du Plessis was dismissed for naught, but Kohli then went with Rajat Patidar, who scored 52, added 99 runs for the second wicket, and attacked the opposition.

short score

Bangalore 170/6 (Kohli 53 runs, Patidar 52 runs 32, Maxwell 33 runs 18; Sangwan 2/19) lost to Gujarat in 19.3 overs (Tevatia scored 43 off 25, Miller made 31 off 24, Gill scored 31 runs in 28. , Saha 29 off 22; Shahbaz 2/26, Hasaranga 2/28) by 6 wickets

Originally published at Pen 18