Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli has recalled 2016's century against the Kings XI Punjab as the “most fun innings” of a prolific Indian Premier League career.
Kohli has collected the most runs in the history of the IPL. His tally of 5,412 in 169 innings includes five centuries. One was hit in a rain-affected fixutre against KXIP at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru four years ago.
The 113 spanned a mere 50 deliveries – and featured a dozen fours and eight sixes. He opened the batting with West Indian left-hander Chris Gayle. They shared a 147-run partnership inside 11 overs en route to a final total of 211 for three. A four-wicket haul from leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal then limited the opposition to 120 for nine.
‘It was against Kings XI in the IPL. It was I think, a 13- or 14-over innings or a 15-over innings and I got a century in 12 overs. That was one of the days where I felt like I'm just connecting everything and I just felt like I couldn't get out. And I've never felt like that before. Just to be able to hit and not have that fear of getting out. It was amazing. So that has been my most fun innings,” he said during a conversation with former England captain and IPL batsman Kevin Pietersen on Instagram.
Kohli in England, 2014
Kohli, too, recollected a disappointing Test series against England in the United Kingdom in 2014. He managed a mere 134 runs in 10 innings, with two ducks and a highest score of just 39.
“The lowest point in my career was the England tour in 2014 where that is one phase where I felt like, you know, when as a batsman you know you are going to get out in the morning when you wake up. That was the time I felt like that: that there is no chance I am getting runs. And still to get out of bed and just get dressed for the game and to go out there and go through that, knowing that you will fail was something that ate me up. It just demolished me completely. And I promised myself I am never going to allow myself to feel like ever again in life,” he added.
