Virat Kohli smashes fifth IPL ton, first this season

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli hit four sixes and nine fours in his 58-ball 100 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.

Virat Kohli in action against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday.

Royal Challengers Bangalore and India skipper Virat Kohli registered his first century of IPL 2019, against Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Eden Gardens on Friday.

Kohli smashed a 58-ball 100, his fifth in the IPL, to help RCB cross the 200-run mark. He hit four sixes and nine fours as RCB finished at 213 for the loss of four wickets.

All his four IPL centuries had come in 2016, the season where RCB perhaps had the best chance to lay its hands on the trophy, but it lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final.

With the Team India 15-member squad announced for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Kohli's IPL ton will hold him in good stead leading up to the mega event.

Virat Kohli after scoring four #IPL centuries in 9 inns in April-May 2016 hasn't made one since then in 35 innings.
His IPL record since: 1224 runs, ave 39.48, S/r 130.49, 50s: 12 (HS 92*)#IPL2019#KKRvRCB

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 19, 2019

 

Prior to the ton, Kohli had a mixed IPL with only two half-centuries under his belt.

RCB lost seven out of its first eight games this season; Kohli's consistency is a good sign for the beleaguered outfit.