"The ultimate chase master" - Fans erupt as Virat Kohli smashes century during SRH vs RCB in IPL 2023

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) batter Virat Kohli starred with the bat against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday, May 18.

The right-handed batter smashed 100 off just 63 balls at a stunning strike rate of 158.73, including 12 boundaries and four sixes. It was Kohli’s sixth IPL century, joint-most with former teammate Chris Gayle, his first since IPL 2019.

The 34-year-old shared a 172-run partnership with RCB captain Faf du Plessis for the opening wicket while chasing 187. The duo took all the SRH bowlers to the cleaners during their power-packed show with the bat.

Fans on Twitter were excited to witness one of the best innings from Virat Kohli in the IPL. One user tweeted:

"The ultimate chase master."

September

@Septemberhere01

Virat Kohli! The ultimate chase master 🏻

Virat Kohli! The ultimate chase master 🙌🏻✨

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions:

Robin Aiyuda Uthappa

@robbieuthappa

KING for a reason!! What a by the chase master @imVkohli!! Truly at his lethal best tonight!! The best opening pair of the @IPL #Kohli & @faf1307 successfully delivers when it mattered the most!! Feeling for Klaasen who was pure KLASS!! @mdsirajofficial was superb too!! 🏾

8219

1308

KING for a reason!! What a 💯 by the chase master @imVkohli!! Truly at his lethal best tonight!! 👑 The best opening pair of the @IPL #Kohli & @faf1307 successfully delivers when it mattered the most!! Feeling for Klaasen who was pure KLASS!! @mdsirajofficial was superb too!! 🙌🏾

Mohammad Kaif

@MohammadKaif

61

3

👑

Mufaddal Vohra

@mufaddal_vohra

Suryakumar Yadav's Instagram story for King Kohli.

1688

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Suryakumar Yadav's Instagram story for King Kohli. https://t.co/89s7LrMHAe

Mohammad Amir

@iamamirofficial

what a inning by one and only the real king @imVkohli take a bow.

1551

401

what a inning by one and only the real king @imVkohli take a bow. https://t.co/3wOA8hj0Ki

Harbhajan Turbanator

@harbhajan_singh

KING KOHLI well played shera @imVkohli @RCBTweets

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82

KING KOHLI well played shera @imVkohli @RCBTweets https://t.co/qd3QoBM7Wb

Virender Sehwag

@virendersehwag

6th IPL century in style. #ViratKohli at his best . And what a great season for Faf. #SRHvRCB

9066

1139

6th IPL century in style. #ViratKohli at his best . And what a great season for Faf. #SRHvRCB https://t.co/a4cQhm9R0d

Sachin Tendulkar

@sachin_rt

It was evident that this would be Virat’s day from the very first ball when he played that cover drive.

Virat and Faf both looked in total control, they not only played many big shots but also ran rather well between the wickets to build a successful partnership.

186 wasn’t a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

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5920

It was evident that this would be Virat’s day from the very first ball when he played that cover drive.

Virat and Faf both looked in total control, they not only played many big shots but also ran rather well between the wickets to build a successful partnership.

186 wasn’t a… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… https://t.co/YpIFVroZfi

Kuldeep yadav

@imkuldeep18

The KING
@imVkohli 🤗

19677

2643

The KING 👑
@imVkohli 🤗♥️ https://t.co/iQszF27c4m

Mufaddal Vohra

@mufaddal_vohra

Anushka Sharma's Instagram story for King Kohli.

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Anushka Sharma's Instagram story for King Kohli. https://t.co/fViaY0H9Un

Yuvraj Singh

@YUVSTRONG12

All rise for the King what a spectacular innings @imVkohli a treat to watch! @RCBTweets #RCBvsSRH

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3839

All rise for the King 👑 what a spectacular innings @imVkohli 💯 a treat to watch! @RCBTweets #RCBvsSRH

Irfan Pathan

@IrfanPathan

Virat Kohli

16143

2010

Virat Kohli 🐐

Suresh Raina🇮🇳

@ImRaina

What a day of cricket! 🏏 @imVkohli brings up yet another magnificent century, showcasing his class and determination. True batting genius! And a huge shout out to @faf1307 for an absolute gem of an innings
#RCBvSRH #IPL2023

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2911

What a day of cricket! 🔥🏏 @imVkohli brings up yet another magnificent century, showcasing his class and determination. True batting genius! 👏 And a huge shout out to @faf1307 for an absolute gem of an innings ❤️
#RCBvSRH #IPL2023 https://t.co/lJo3zL0AzA

Sanjay Manjrekar

@sanjaymanjrekar

Fantastic innings from Virat! Kept looking to maximise returns on every ball he faced in the innings. He has got T20 hundreds before, loved the template he used to get this one! 🏼🏼🏼🏼
#IPLonStar

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547

Fantastic innings from Virat! Kept looking to maximise returns on every ball he faced in the innings. He has got T20 hundreds before, loved the template he used to get this one! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
#IPLonStar

AB de Villiers

@ABdeVilliers17

VIRAAAAAAAAAAAT

70980

13006

VIRAAAAAAAAAAAT💪💪💪

Anjum Chopra

@chopraanjum

If Klaasen #SRH was powerful and impactful; Virat Kohli #RCB was all class and style. Brilliant strokeplay from both batters. #SRHvRCB 🏻🏻

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If Klaasen 💯 #SRH was powerful and impactful; Virat Kohli 💯 #RCB was all class and style. Brilliant strokeplay from both batters. #SRHvRCB 👏🏻👏🏻

Yuzvendra Chahal

@yuzi_chahal

What a knock bhaiya @imVkohli

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3446

What a knock bhaiya @imVkohli 👑 🔥 🔥

Wayne Parnell

@WayneParnell

KOHLI IN A CHASE. That’s it. That’s the Tweet. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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2048

KOHLI IN A CHASE. That’s it. That’s the Tweet. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Rashid Khan

@rashidkhan_19

King Kholi what a knock bhai @imVkohli 🏻

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6178

King Kholi what a knock bhai @imVkohli 👑🔥🔥🙌🏻

Vikky Chandnani

@vikky_chandnani

Gautam Gambhir and Naveen ul Haq after Kohli 100

#SRHvRCB

2

Gautam Gambhir and Naveen ul Haq after Kohli 100

#SRHvRCB https://t.co/38qugDfP6m

Uday Rana

@UdaySRana

Only a year ago, they were calling time on Virat Kohli’ career. Look at him now, like a phoenix from the ashes.

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Only a year ago, they were calling time on Virat Kohli’ career. Look at him now, like a phoenix from the ashes.

Khemraj potaliya

@Khemrajpotaliy1

Virat Kohli class!!!
#SRHvRCB
#ViratKohli

Virat Kohli class!!!👑👑
#SRHvRCB
#ViratKohli

Frustrated SRH fan

@GappaCricket

This is Virat Kohli’s best IPL

4

This is Virat Kohli’s best IPL 💯

𝓹𓃵

@cricloverPrayas

@CricCrazyJohns .Slowest Centuries in ipl history

- Kohli (63 balls)
- Kohli (62 balls) today

1

1

@CricCrazyJohns .Slowest Centuries in ipl history

- Kohli (63 balls)
- Kohli (62 balls) today https://t.co/D3euebdcji

With his century, Virat Kohli also completed 500 runs in this edition of the IPL. The Delhi-born batter has, so far, amassed 538 runs in 13 games at a strike rate of 135.85, including a ton and six half-centuries. He will now look to guide RCB to their maiden IPL trophy this season.

For the uninitiated, Kohli is also the all-time leading run-scorer in IPL with 7162 runs in 236 games.

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Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis help RCB win by eight wickets in a crucial IPL 2023 game

A clinical batting display from Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis helped the Royal Challengers Bangalore beat the SunRisers Hyderabad by eight wickets on Thursday.

Besides Kohli, du Plessis also starred with the bat, scoring 71 off 47 balls, including two sixes and seven boundaries. For SRH, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan settled for one wicket apiece.

Earlier in the day, SRH posted 186/5 after being asked to bat first. Heinrich Klassen shone for the SunRisers with 104 off 51 balls at a strike rate of 203.92, including eight boundaries and six maximums. Harry Brook also chipped in with an unbeaten 29 off 19 deliveries.

For RCB, Michael Bracewell emerged as the pick of the bowlers, returning with figures of 2/13. Mohammed Siraj, Shahbaz Ahmed, and Harshal Patel took one wicket each.

With the win, the Bengaluru-based franchise has jumped to fourth spot in the latest IPL 2023 points table. They have equal (14)) points with five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) but possess a positive net run rate.

RCB now must win their last group-stage game against defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by a decent margin to qualify for the playoffs.

Click here to check out the SRH vs RCB full scorecard.

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