Virat Kohli overtakes Shikhar Dhawan in this elite IPL record

Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli overtook his statesman and former India teammate Shikhar Dhawan in terms of the highest half-century scorer in the history of the Indian Premier League. Kohli now has one half-century more than Dhawan as the former eclipsed the latter last night during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first win of the IPL 2024 season against Punjab Kings. A jampacked and lively M. Chinnaswamy stadium witnessed a thrilling match that went down the wire.

But the man who was the focal point of last night’s contest was Virat Kohli. The former RCB and India captain, who played only his second competitive match since his return from a 3-month paternity leave, played a splendid comeback knock. His 51st half-century while trying to chase down a total of 177, was not entirely enough for the win but it did prove to be the point of difference.

Virat Kohli, having opened the innings with skipper Faf du Plessis, scored a fantastic 49-ball 77 in a vintage fashion and that also helped him put the Orange cap on top of his head. He had laid the foundation for RCB’s win last night in front of home support before Mahipal Lomror and Dinesh Karthik took over and guided the team towards their first victory.

Virat Kohli is only 10 shy of David Warner’s record of most half-centuries

With his man-of-the-match-winning 77 knock against Punjab Kings, Virat Kohli became 2nd in the list of all-time most half-century scorers in IPL history. Kohli achieved this feat while playing in his 239th match for the Royal Challengers and it came at a time when the team desperately needed him to fire.

The hosts were reduced to 4 wickets when they were at 103 by the first ball of the 13th over. The entire top and middle order of du Plessis (3 off 7), Cameron Green (3 off 5), Rajat Patidar (18 off 18), and Glenn Maxwell (3 off 5), all departed cheaply and it was Virat Kohli who was not willing to back down.

As wickets kept falling from the other end, Kohli continued to back himself and played his respective shots before scoring his 51st half-century. However, in the final ball of the 16th over, his teammate until last season, Harshal Patel picked his wicket with a slower one that Kohli mistimed and toed it towards deep backward point.

Harpeet Brar completed a very good low diving catch and Virat Kohli was not able to believe it for a while as he stood in the crease in disbelief before taking the long walk back. 2 balls later, Anuj Rawat departed for 11 off 14 but then Dinesh Karthik and Mahipal Lomror did not let Kohli’s effort go in vain as the duo took the game deep into the last over before DK scored the winning runs.

With that, RCB won the game, Kohli won the Orange cap and only finds himself below David Warner in terms of most 50s in IPL as the Aussie is up there with 61 half-centuries.

Most fifties in IPL history since 2008