IPL 2018: Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli’s admiration for each other after KXIP vs RCB match

The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) locked horns yesterday at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Both were in requisite for a victory in order to progress in the latter stages of the Indian Premier League (IPL). While RCB were in a do-or-die situation, KXIP wanted to arrest their recent slump and get their derailed campaign back on track.

In the end, it was Virat Kohli’s men who decimated the hosts by a margin of ten wickets. RCB chased down a paltry target of 89 set by Punjab, which they managed to accomplish in 8.1 overs. Meanwhile, the victory was also RCB’s biggest in terms of ball remaining as they had 71 balls to spare. Kohli won the toss and elected to field first. KL Rahul and Chris Gayle opened the batting and the duo blazed away.

The thumping win for Virat and Co.

They carved a partnership of 36 runs inside the first five overs, which kick-started KXIP’s innings. However, Umesh Yadav pinned both in the same over, which exerted pressure on the home team. Thereafter, barring Aaron Finch’s knock of 26 runs, there were hardly any contributions from the remaining batsmen as the Challengers lost wickets like nine pins and were restricted to a low score.

Parthiv Patel and Virat Kohli opened for RCB and the left-right duo smacked the bowlers with sheer ease and helped their team over the finishing line without dropping much sweat. Following the match, both Gayle and Kohli were seen exchanging handshakes and hugging each other, which was heartwarming, to say the least.

Gayle was an integral part of the Kohli’s boys for quite a few seasons but was released by the franchise ahead of the auction of the prestigious event. The hulk-like Jamaican cricketer was then roped in by the Preity Zinta-owned team at his base price of INR 2 crore after he went unsold for a couple of times.

Here is the video of Kohli and Gayle’s camaraderie

As comprehensive a victory as it can get for the @RCBTweets.#KXIPvRCB pic.twitter.com/dyCLvftjlY

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 14, 2018

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