3 times Virat Kohli delivered when RCB needed him most

With 9230 runs in tournament history, the most by a player, Virat Kohli has a case for being the greatest batter the IPL has ever seen. The talismanic batter, plying his trade for RCB throughout, has played many vital innings when the chips were down for his team. His catalogue of brilliant knocks and feats would take a lot to rival, and despite being in positions of adversity all across the way, he has come out on top on all occasions.

Here are three iconic Virat Kohli knocks under pressure in IPL:

3) 100* (63) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, May 18, 2023

This was a do-or-die clash for RCB with their playoff hopes on the line. Electing to field first, they were made victims of a brilliant onslaught from Heinrich Klaasen, as the Sunrisers Hyderabad were taken to a competitive total of 186/5 in their 20 overs. The South African wicketkeeper batter finished unbeaten on 104 off just 51 balls in a lone effort, with Harry Brook’s 27 being the next-best score.

Under pressure and with the requirement of a net run rate boost, what followed was a masterful display from Kohli at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Stitching a 172-run opening stand with Faf du Plessis, the talismanic batter raced to what was a record-breaking sixth IPL century off just 62 balls. He fell to the next ball, but had done enough to secure RCB’s position in the chase. He scored 12 fours and hit four sixes, and he fell with the team needing just 15 runs of the final two overs.