‘Isse bada selfish nhi dekha aajtak’ – Fans fume as Virat Kohli hits half century with low strike rate against PBKS in IPL 2023

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli continued his brilliant form as he hit his fourth half-century in the 27th match of the Indian Premier League(IPL) 2023 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday, April 20. Kohli is also leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as Faf du Plessis didn’t come to the field because of a rib injury but he came as an impact player to open the innings with Kohli.

Meanwhile, the star Indian right-hander got a brilliant start to his innings in the powerplay and was looking in great touch initially. However, as soon as the powerplay ended, his strike rate got decreased and he was finding it hard to hit boundaries. PBKS spinners, Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar didn’t give any loose delivery and kept creating pressure on him after which he ended up throwing his wicket to Brar after scoring 59 runs off 47 balls 5 fours, and only 1 six.

Brilliant batting by Faf du Plessis

PBKS star allrounder Sam Curran, who led the side in the last match in Shikhar Dhawan’s absence, was again seen leading the side as Dhawan is yet to get his full fitness. While talking about the match, Curran won the toss and invited RCB to put runs on the scoreboard. Du Plessis and Kohli gave a blistering start to RCB as they smashed 59 runs in the mandatory powerplay. While the former protea skipper continued to accelerate, Kohli was struggling to connect the ball and the run rate dropped down.

Both stitched a 137-run stand for the first wicket before Brar struck twice in the 17th over by dismissing Kohli and Glenn Maxwell in the first two deliveries of that over. du Plessis showed slammed sixes in the death overs but departed after scoring 84 runs off just 56 balls which included 5 fours and as many sixes but departed in the 18th over of the match after that no other batter could provide anything to the scoreboard as PBKS restricted RCB on the score of 174 runs.

Here’s how fans reacted:

https://twitter.com/selflessrohit45/status/1649005848247828480?s=20

Simon Dull.. where are you man

— Keerthan Reddy (@Keerthanro45) April 20, 2023

https://twitter.com/_arnavanand_/status/1649006967262965760?s=20

This is why hi is yet win a ipl trophy pic.twitter.com/e92F5yNKO0

— jack-Ahmed.hitman (@fatherofbola) April 20, 2023

Virat Kohli today pic.twitter.com/2MzDvWD1Xv

— TIGERIAN RAJA (@AjitIshwarRaja) April 20, 2023

https://twitter.com/Saumyapai1/status/1649011134605967368?s=20

Kya bekar khela he aaj virat yr

— Dipesh Tailor (@DipeshT96767338) April 20, 2023

अपने लिए खेल रहा…टीम के लिए खेलता तो टेस्ट नहीं खेलता

— खट्टर कक्का (@Khattarkakka) April 20, 2023