Clinical Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured a crucial win to keep themselves in the hunt for a playoff position. Indian star batter Virat Kohli starred in RCB’s dominant 60-run win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Dharamsala. Kohli silenced the home crowd with a stunning knock of 47-ball 92, smacking 7 fours and 6 sixes. Kohli was electrifying on the field as he pulled off a spectacular direct hit to dismiss the home side’s one of the best batters, Shashank Singh.

Invited to bat first, RCB had a shaky start as Vidhwath Kaverappa dismissed Faf du Plessis (9) and Will Jacks (12) cheaply in consecutive overs. Although RCB lost two early wickets, Kohli alongside Rajat Patidar added runs quickly. Patidar, who is in great form rained sixes. Kohli went on to hit his half-century, crossing the 1000-run mark against PBKS, and also became the first-ever batter in the history of the IPL to do it against three opponents.

Patidar departed after playing an incredible knock of 55 with an amazing strike rate of 239.13. Cameron Green’s crucial knock of 46 and Kohli’s anchoring innings helped RCB to post a huge total of 241/7 in 20 overs. Harshal Patel starred with a three-wicket for PBKS.

Chasing a mammoth 242, PBKS lost Prabhsimran Singh early but Jonny Bairstow and Rilee Rossouw added 65 runs in no time. Bairstow (27) fell to Lockie Ferguson in the final powerplay over. However, Rossouw continued his onslaught to keep the chase alive. The Proteas batter perished after playing a superb knock of 27-ball 61. Jitesh Sharma (5) and Liam Livingstone (0) failed to make an impact. Shashank and Sam Curran chipped in with 37 and 22 respectively but those knocks were not enough as RCB bowlers kept taking regular wickets and eventually, bowled out PBKS for 181.