Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 13: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli added another feather to his illustrious cap by notching up his 100th half-century in T20 cricket during a masterful chase against Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
In match 18 of the tournament, RCB chased down a competitive target of 174 with ease, thanks to Kohli’s anchor role and an explosive knock by opener Phil Salt. While Salt went all guns blazing, Virat played the role of the stabilizer, keeping the scoreboard ticking with sharp strike rotation and timely boundaries.
Kohli reached the landmark 100th T20 fifty in the 15th over, joining former Australian opener David Warner as the only two batters in the world to achieve this feat. Warner currently leads the chart with 108 half-centuries in the format.
Displaying his class and composure, Kohli turned up the heat by lofting an in-drifter over long-on for a majestic six, followed by a graceful celebration. His innings wasn’t without fortune, though—he was dropped early on by Riyan Parag off Sandeep Sharma’s bowling, a costly miss that Rajasthan would regret.
Capitalizing on the reprieve, Kohli constructed a match-winning 83-run partnership with Devdutt Padikkal after Salt departed for a quickfire 65 off just 33 balls. Kohli remained unbeaten on 62 from 45 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes, guiding RCB to a convincing 9-wicket win.
This was Kohli’s third half-century of the season, reaffirming his status as the ‘Chase Master’. The victory marked RCB’s fourth win of IPL 2025, taking them to third place on the points table with eight points, trailing only Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans.