From a fledgling in international cricket to a seasoned campaigner, Virat Kohli has hardly left the Wankhede Stadium without making the bowlers - of all varieties - pay a heavy price.
Turning out in RCB colours for the ninth time here on Tuesday, Kohli played a gem of an innings embellished with sparkling shots. His unbeaten 92 took his tally to 392 runs off 271 balls at the Wankhede. Eight knocks have been against Mumbai Indians, the exception being the one game against Chennai Super Kings in 2011. His aggregate is the highest by a non-MI batsman at the venue.
Chasing a mammoth 214 to win, the departure of A.B. de Villiers had left RCB in a lurch. Undettered, Kohli switched gears and tried to bat deep. However, with more wickets tumbling, he perhaps gave up on a pitch that offered some purchase for spinners.
Apart from being beaten - once by a Mitchell McGlenaghan delivery - Kohli, for most part of his innings, was in full control. He produced shots with a prominent and efficient deployment of the top hand. He had sized up the wicket well to cut out undue risks, especially against leg-spinner Mayank Markande, whom he faced 14 times and scored only 15.
Virat comes of age
Seven years ago, taking guard in the ICC World Cup final against Sri Lanka, after Sachin Tendulkar's dismissal had India reeling at 31 for 2, a 22-year-old Kohli had shown his mettle with a courageous 49-ball 35, helping Gautam Gambhir take India’s score to 114.
Kohli, the orange cap holder, took his tally to 201 runs in the current edition, but later said, "I don't really want to wear this right now. We just threw it away and need to reflect on our dismissals. One or two good partnerships would’ve done it for us, but credit to Mumbai who bowled really well."
A packed house saw a quality innings. It was not all ‘slam bang’. There was much refinement and timing in his execution of strokes, quite the opposite of Dwayne Bravo’s swashbuckling effort in the league opener.
Kohli has scored 433 runs in four Test matches at 72.17 with one century and three fifties at this venue, 249 runs in four ODIs at 83.00 with one century and one fifty, and 127 runs in T20 internationals at 127.00 with one half-century. No wonder the locals have become real Kohli fans.
His scores at the Wankhede in IPL are: 23,70 * (against CSK), 36 *, 1,35,82 *,33, 20, 92 *
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