"Greatness personified"- Fans erupt as Virat Kohli hits 101* in RCB's must-win match against GT in IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Virat Kohli smashed a sensational century against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday, May 21. It was a must-win match for RCB as they will only qualify for the playoffs if they win this contest.

GT captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the final league match of the season. RCB got off to a brisk start once again. Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli hit a flurry of boundaries against the Gujarat pacers Mohammed Shami and Yash Dayal.

Noor Ahmad eventually dismissed Du Plessis in the eighth over to give GT their first breakthrough. Rashid Khan then cleaned up Glenn Maxwell in the next over to dent RCB's innings.

The onus was on Virat Kohli to take his side to a decent total in the crucial game. He did not let his fans and team down.

The right-hander looked determined and played with a great tempo even though he kept losing partners at the other end. He found gaps effortlessly and paced the innings perfectly to reach his second consecutive century. In the company of Anuj Rawat (23*), Virat Kohli lifted RCB to 197/5 in 20 overs.

Fans were in awe of the magnificent batting performance of Virat Kohli in the high-pressure game and expressed their reactions on Twitter. Here are some of the best reactions:

HISTORY - VIRAT KOHLI HAS NOW MOST HUNDREDS IN IPL HISTORY - 7* HUNDREDS.

THE GOAT OF WORLD CRICKET. https://t.co/ah5trQPyqC

Uff! In this form, he stands alone. Those punches through the off. And that shot at 17.2! I'll say it again, he has a GPS in his mind, just knows where the fielders are and hits the gaps for fun.

Virat Kohli carrying RCB today https://t.co/loxbiKgMGJ

Virat Kohli - The Man, The Myth, The Legend, The GOAT. https://t.co/9YduZ4uU4m

When the lights are brightest, Pressure is highest, Crowds are the loudest, The best will arrive, The strongest will survive, The greatest will thrive

King Virat Kohli https://t.co/2ov10dMwQv

Back to back IPL centuries. Just a master of his surroundings right now. It is very reminiscent of 2016 Virat Kohli. Greatness personified.

Once a virat kohli said
"When I come out of this phase, I know how consistent I can be" ♥️ #ViratKohli𓃵 #RCBvGT https://t.co/s5ygzCGeby

Pressure, What Pressure, he is the King.

Take a bow, Virat.
https://t.co/YSmaktGSoB

Virat is there when we need him!

The Myth, The Man, The Legend back to back century for King Kohli 💪🔥🔥 https://t.co/HCVH6OQUYW

Some Lockdown kids were taking classes of acceleration to the greatest 😭😭

The man, the myth, the king
Virat Kohli 👑 https://t.co/B4KhOasgr1

The fitness, The Commitment, The dedication.

King Kohli, Take a bow. https://t.co/eTDdEXH3cX

Remember friends it all started with this

King Kohli. https://t.co/Eb0qD8bJQx

2 hundreds in a row by Kohli but no celebration today 👀🎧🔥 #Cricket #IPL2O23 #IPL #ViratKohli #viratkholi #virat https://t.co/BNgS8A3TWn

After noon Hail storm
Night King Kohli storm
Perfect day for Bengaluru citizens
#BengaluruRains
#ViratKohli𓃵 https://t.co/R33t3kM9vi

Virat Kohli is the most clutch player atleast in this Indian team. Always performs in big games.

#ViratKohli𓃵 https://t.co/rNpwSBd6mI

Aise hi world ka best batsman nahi kahte hai
Best bowling line up ke samne run Marta hai 🐐🐐🐐

Virat Kohli vs GT
58(53), Mumbai (Brabourne), 2022
73(54), Mumbai WS, 2022
101*(61), Bengaluru, 2023

#ViratKohli𓃵
#RCBvGT
#RCBvsGT

Every time this man scores runs, it gives you a sense of personal victory. WHAT A PLAYER!

#ViratKohli #ipl2023

The man The Myth The King @imVkohli 🛐
https://t.co/yrDKS7ZKHG

A score close to 200 is a very competitive and winnable score, according to me: Virat Kohli

Speaking during the mid-innings break, Virat Kohli opined that RCB's target of around 200 would be a defendable one in the conditions on offer. He also reflected on his scintillating knock, revealing that he is playing his best in the T20 format at the moment. He said:

"(On the score) We would have taken that with both hands once we were five wickets down, with Anuj as the last recognized batter left. We targeted 190 when we lost five. A score close to 200 is a very competitive and winnable score, according to me."

He added:

"I felt great. A lot of people think my T20 cricket is declining but I do not think that at all. I think I am playing my best T20 cricket at the moment."

Speaking further about his knock, the match condition and the importance of the match, Kohli said:

"Strike rates, and all those kinds of things, you have to read situations and rise up to them. That is what I pride myself on. (On the pitch) Spin was not easy to get away. The strength of a lot of our fast bowlers is also to take the pace off."

He added:

"There is enough in the pitch to make a dent. If we can cut down boundaries, and not allow them to get twos from hitting into the gaps, it will be a difficult chase. I was not thinking about the rain, not watching the other game either. Was just concentrating on what I needed to do for the team."

Do you think RCB can defend the total? Sound off in the comments section.