Twitter Reactions: Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers light up the contest against SRH

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season 9 had been termed boring thus far with all the three games being one-sided; it was time for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to take field against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at their home in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Visiting skipper David Warner won the toss and going by the trend decided to bowl first. Virat Kohli didn’t mind batting first, he obviously trusts himself and the batting lineup he has.

They had a poor start as a Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery to Chris Gayle deflected off his pads and went on to hit his leg-stump that brought AB de Villiers at the crease to join skipper Kohli. The crowd absolutely loved watching this duo bat together and their expectations came true as AB started the show. After playing out Kumar for the first three balls nudging around for singles and a single off Mustafizur, de Villiers was on strike and the veteran Ashish Nehra was the bowler, the second ball of the over, a short one was pulled brilliantly and that got him a boundary. Once he tasted blood the hunger wasn’t controllable AB de Villiers hit the next for a huge six down the ground, he hit another four in that over.

Kohli at the other end took his time to settle down and then matched his South African partner shot by shot. First, AB got to his fifty and the skipper got there soon as well. While many expected dual hundreds from both the batsmen it didn’t happen as Virat was first dismissed on 75 off 51 balls (7 fours and 3 sixes) and then Mustafizur foxed AB with a slower ball, he departed on 82 from 42 (7 fours and 6 sixes). They had a 154-run partnership for the 2nd wicket in 14.3 overs Kohli contributed 71 and ABD scored 82.

Here is what the world of Twitter had to say while the two breath fire on the field:

Virat Kohli
First 20 balls: 20 runs
Last 31 balls: 55 runs

But yeah, complain.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 12, 2016

ABvsKohli > BatmanvsSuperman any day. #IPL

— cricBC (@cricBC) April 12, 2016

Virat Kohli has hit more sixes in Twenty20 format than Shahid Afridi in 9 fewer innings. #IPL #RCBvSRH

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 12, 2016

Trying to control a drunk friend who keeps saying "Gaadi to main hi chalaunga" pic.twitter.com/l5QEEn41KS

— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 12, 2016

Support group for people who don't have AB deVilliers in their fantasy team today. Let's have a group-cry.

— LOLendra Singh (@LOLendraSingh) April 12, 2016

Class of AB & VK+Flat Pitch+Short Boundaries=Fielders become spectators & spectators become fielders. Unbelievable onslaught ? #RCBvSRH #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 12, 2016

AB has just got stuck into Reddy! 16 off that over with 2 big sixes, 150 partnership up for @ABdeVilliers17 & @imVkohli! #PlayBold #RCBvSRH

— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) April 12, 2016

Ashish Reddy changes name to Ashish Unprepared#sorry #RCBvSRH

— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) April 12, 2016

Kohli & De villiers treating SRH's bowlers that they were the only reason for exit from the WT20.#RCBvSRH

— Sunil- The Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 12, 2016

Brothers in arms – @imVkohli and @ABdeVilliers17 #IPL @RCBTweetshttps://t.co/Mp1FWIJdiD

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2016

AB has a #IPL hundred for #DD, he has one #IPL hundred already for #RCB, he's looking good for another tonight #RCBvSRH #IPL2016

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) April 12, 2016

As I said when India had Rahane playing an "anchor role" during WT20 semi final, Kohli needs to open for India in T20i

— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) April 12, 2016

Remember Virat Kohli & AB de Villiers record stand of 215* in 16.5 overs (@ 12.77 runs per over) last #IPL season vs MI at MumbaiWS#RCBvSRH

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) April 12, 2016

Most Fifty plus scores in Twenty20s:
72 – Chris Gayle
50 – Brad Hodge
48 – David Warner
40 – Rohit Sharma / VIRAT KOHLI#RCBvSRH #IPL

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) April 12, 2016

Drop everything & watch this ! AB & Virat are in full flow. #IPL2016 #RCBvSRH

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 12, 2016

Kohli currently averages 85 vs SRH while AB de Villiers averages 61.25… #IPL9

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) April 12, 2016

Kohli and de Villiers jugalbandi breathing life into the IPL this year

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 12, 2016

How is the match panning out? – IPL 9, Match 4: RCB v SRH Live social feeds