Kohli’s crucial knock against Punjab saves ABD from humiliation

Virat Kohli batted with his heart out for the match against Punjab in the Indian T20 League 2024. While Du Plessis collapsed at the very beginning of the game, Kohli remained upfront to slam his 100th half-fifty in T20 cricket. He also saved his friend Ab de Villiers from humilation. 

Kohli’s catch was dropped by Jonny Bairstow while fielding in the slips. At that time, the Indian star didn’t even open his account. Later it proved to be a costly mistake as he smashed 77 runs, recording 11 fours and 2 sixes to hand over Bangalore the first win of the 2024 season. 

His crucial knock was proved to be prominent in his team’s victory by a 4 wicket margin and BLR managed to get the first points of the 17th edition of the league. 

Ab de Villiers spent his best days of the Indian T20 League with Bangalore and is a devoted supporter of the franchise. Ab played a bet with the former Chennai plater Scott Styris that he would wear a Chennai jersey in the game between the five-time champions and Gujarat in Match 7, if Punjab manages to defeat Bengaluru in the then-Wednesday fixture. And if BLR manages to win, then Styris would have to wear a Bangalore jersey for the rest of the tournament. 

“Virat Kohli saved me today. That couldn’t been a humiliating situation for me,” AB de Villiers expressed.

The legendary Proteas batter was certain about Kohli’s success in BLR’s second game of the season.

“I knew he would score runs. I could read his eyes that he was determined to get a big total for his team. Although he was silent, his face was showing that he was feeling confident ahead of the contest,” he added.

The day marked a personal milestone for the dynamic batter who scored just 21 runs against the defending champions Chennai in the first match of the season. 

With this Virat Kohli becomes the only third player after Chris Gayle and David Warner to hit 100 half-centuries in the T20 format of the game.