Virat Kohli showcased his trademark composure and skill once again, hammering his sixth half-century of IPL 2025 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru ascended to the top of the points table. In a tense chase against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Kohli crafted a patient 51 off 47 deliveries, punctuated with four boundaries. His innings was pivotal, especially after RCB were rocked early at 26 for 3 while chasing 163. Together with Krunal Pandya, Kohli stitched a crucial century stand that anchored the innings and secured a six-wicket win for Bengaluru.
The latest half-century helped Kohli overtake others in the race for the Orange Cap, as he now sits atop the chart with 443 runs from 10 innings. His nearest competitor, Suryakumar Yadav, trails by 16 runs, while Sai Sudharsan follows closely behind with 417 runs.
Reflecting on the victory, Kohli highlighted the challenging conditions in Delhi, noting a significant difference compared to earlier games at the venue.
“It was a top win, especially looking at the surface,” Kohli said after the triumph. “We saw a few games here and this wicket played very different to the other games. Whenever there’s a chase on, I keep checking with the dugout, whether we’re on course, what is my role, the kind of innings I need to play. It was a top win; we were under pressure and me and Krunal getting a 100-run partnership.”
When asked about his strategy during run-chases, Virat Kohli revealed the meticulous thought process that guides his innings. Keeping an eye on various factors, he ensures a dynamic flow by maintaining strike rotation and targeting appropriate bowlers.
“(I focus on) Total on the board, conditions, who are bowlers due to bowl, the bowlers that are going to be hard to get away. I try and make sure my singles and doubles don’t stop and then you keep getting the odd boundary in between. The game never gets stagnant. That’s always been my focus, to keep working on rotating strike, singles and doubles. People are forgetting the importance of stitching partnerships and or going deep into the innings in T20 cricket,” he explained.
Kohli emphasized that IPL 2025 has been a strong reminder of the critical role partnerships play in T20 cricket. According to him, the tournament has underlined that dominance over bowlers cannot be achieved instantly and requires patient, smart cricket.
