[Watch] Virat Kohli produces stunning no-look six off Mitchell Starc in RCB-KKR IPL 2024 clash
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star Virat Kohli pulled off a stylish no-look six against Mitchell Starc in the clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on April 21.
Chasing a massive 223 for victory, Kohli got the innings off to the perfect start with a boundary and maximum in the opening over of Harshit Rana. Then came the contest the fans were waiting for with Starc steaming in to bowl to Kohli.
However, Kohli won the first round with an audacious maximum off his first delivery against the Aussie pacer. The former RCB captain made room outside the leg stump and effortlessly lofted the bowler over the long-on boundary for a no-look six.
Here is a video of Kohli's incredible shot:
Unfortunately for Virat Kohli, his stay was brief as he was dismissed controversially off a waist high full toss in the next over for 18 from 7 deliveries..
The champion batter was distraught at the decision and expressed his anger to the umpires before walking off the field. Despite the rare failure, Kohli remains the Orange Cap holder of IPL 2024 with 379 runs at an average of over 63 and a strike rate of 150.39 in eight outings.
RCB suffer heartbreak in a thrilling finish against KKR
The all-important KKR-RCB clash came down to the last ball of the second innings where the home team prevailed by 1 run, much to the delight of the Eden Gardens crowd.
After KKR posted a daunting total of 222/6, RCB produced a spirited response before being bowled out for 221. Despite losing Kohli and Faf du Plessis early, the RCB batters continued taking the aggressive route, with half-centuries from Will Jacks and Rajat Patidar.
However, timely wickets from KKR bowlers left RCB needing an improbable 21 off the final over. Yet, an undeterred Karn Sharma smashed three sixes off the expensive Mitchell Starc to bring the equation down to three in two balls.
The Aussie pacer finally redeemed himself by picking up the wicket of Karn Sharma off the penultimate delivery to make if 3 needed off the final ball for the last man Lockie Ferguson.
Despite laying bat on the ball through the cover region, the Kiwi No.11 was caught short of his ground while running the second set, thanks to a brilliant effort from wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
The victory propelled KKR back into second place on the points table with a fifth win in seven outings. As for RCB, it was their sixth consecutive defeat as they remain at the bottom of the standings with the lone win in eight games.