Virat Kohli leaves Gaikwad behind to win back Orange Cap

As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured their fourth win of the Indian Premier League 2024 at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on May 4 (Saturday) - it was a double dose of happiness for their fans as Virat Kohli treated them with a stroke-filled 42. The knock not only helped RCB grab their second win of the tournament but also ensured the former RCB skipper bagged the Orange Cap with 542 runs, overtaking Ruturaj Gaikwad (509).

Coming into the encounter, Kohli needed 10 runs to overcome Gaikwad’s total of 509 runs, which have come at an average of 63.62. The Chennai Super Kings skipper is one of the most consistent batters in the Indian Premier League history, with 2306 runs at an average of 42.70 and a strike rate of 137.84 since making his debut back in 2020. 

But it was always going to look pale in front of literally the greatest limited-overs batters to have been born in the country. Kohli, who has never scored less than 300 runs in a season since 2010, was in his elements throughout this season. Had it not been for his 42 and his 92-run partnership with skipper Faf du Plessis, RCB would have found it really difficult to break away from the middle-over logjam that has become so characteristic of them.

With the win, RCB have found themselves sitting at the seventh position on the points table, with a realistic chance of making it to the next stage if other results go their way. RCB will next play against Punjab Kings at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on May 9 (Thursday). They return home on May 12 (Sunday) to lock horns with Delhi Capitals before finishing the season against Chennai Super Kings on May 18 (Sunday). 

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