Virat Kohli was introduced as an impact substitute for the first time in the IPL and his 49 led defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a comprehensive five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old Kohli was only able to play as a batter due to an injury suffered in Bengaluru’s previous win over Mumbai Indians.
After sitting out of the first innings, he got his team off to a strong start in a modest chase of 147 after opening partner Phil Salt departed for seven in the second over.
Bengaluru raced to their fourth win in five matches with 29 balls to spare to move level on points with Rajasthan Royals, but top of the 10-team table on net run-rate.
“I’m still not 100 percent. My knee was a bit sore last game. Even health-wise, I’ve been under the weather for four or five days now,” Kohli said.
“I started off well today, so I was happy with my intensity. Again, would have liked to carry on and finish the game off.”
Kohli, who made 50 in the previous match, hit six fours off new-ball bowlers Mohammed Shami and Prince Yadav before he crunched his only six off spinner Digvesh Rathi.
Kohli looked in control but missed out on his fifty after being caught in the deep off Avesh Khan.
Kohli is the leading run-scorer this season with 228, including two half-centuries in five matches, but he is hungry for more.
“The game has certainly changed,” he said. “I’m trying my best. I think I’ve done okay so far in adapting. Early on, last two games, as I said, I haven’t been at my best, but yeah, I’m always looking to push the bar.”
Bengaluru lost two more wickets, including skipper Rajat Patidar for 27, before Tim David and Romario Shepherd -- who both scored 14 not out -- steered the team home.
Earlier, Rasikh Salam returned figures of 4-24 to help bowl out Lucknow for 146 in exactly 20 overs.
Salam, who dismissed Lucknow opener Aiden Markram for 12, was ably supported by senior pace bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-27) and Josh Hazlewood (1-20).
Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant was hit on the elbow by a short delivery from Hazlewood and retired hurt, grimacing in pain, after just three balls.
Pant later returned but quickly fell to a stunning outfield catch by Salt off Kumar. He made one.
Mitchell Marsh top-scored with 40, but the Lucknow batters largely struggled in a below-par performance to go down for their third defeat in five matches.
“175 would’ve been competitive,” said stand-in-skipper Nicholas Pooran. “But it’s no secret we have been struggling with the bat the entire season and today we paid the price.”
fk/nf
